Depardieu to Face Trial Over Alleged Rapes of Actress Charlotte Arnould
Paris, France – An investigating judge has requested that actor Gérard Depardieu be sent to trial before the Paris Criminal Court on charges of rape, stemming from allegations made by actress Charlotte Arnould. The request, confirmed by Le Monde on Tuesday, September 2, centers around two incidents alleged to have occurred at Depardieu’s home in August 2018.
The case raises critical questions about consent,power dynamics,and vulnerability within the entertainment industry. Depardieu, now 77, is accused of digitally penetrating Arnould, then 22, without her consent on August 7th and 13th, 2018.While Depardieu has acknowledged the intimate encounters, he disputes the claim that they were non-consensual.
According to reports, Depardieu’s lawyer, Me Jérémie Assous, announced Tuesday evening on BFMTV that they intend to appeal the indictment and request dismissal of the case. However, such reversals are considered rare given the detailed reasoning provided by the investigating judges.
The potential trial will revisit the circumstances surrounding the alleged assaults and provide a legal forum to examine the complexities of consent. The case is especially meaningful given Depardieu’s long and celebrated career, and the ongoing scrutiny of allegations of sexual misconduct against prominent figures in the film industry.
