Gerard Depardieu to Drop Appeal in Sexual Assault Case
The French cinema icon will withdraw his appeal, making his suspended sentence and sex offender registration final ahead of next week's hearing.
By Olga Menon ·
Gerard Depardieu, a towering figure in French cinema, is preparing to withdraw his appeal against a sexual assault conviction. According to a source close to the matter, the decision was communicated on Friday, just days before the scheduled appeals trial was set to begin.
The move effectively finalizes the original judgment handed down last year. Depardieu, who is now 77, had been sentenced to 18 months in prison, but the term was suspended. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender, a legal status that marks a significant downturn for an actor who had dominated the industry for approximately half a century.
The initial case stemmed from incidents that occurred on the set of the film 'Les Volets Verts', also known as 'The Green Shutters'. The movie was directed by Jean Becker and was being filmed in 2021. The two women who brought the charges were a set dresser, identified in court documents only as Amelie, and an assistant director.
Along with the primary conviction, the original ruling included an additional penalty for 'secondary victimisation'. This charge related to how Depardieu's defense team treated the two women during the legal proceedings. By withdrawing the appeal now, this extra penalty will also stand as part of the final judgment.
Depardieu has consistently denied the allegations of sexual assault in this specific case. His legal team had planned to contest the ruling in an appeals trial that was set to start on Monday. However, the decision to drop the challenge brings a definitive end to that particular legal battle.
Despite this resolution, the actor faces another legal front. He has been indicted in a separate case following a rape complaint filed by 30-year-old actor Charlotte Arnould. Depardieu maintains that he is not guilty in this matter as well. He has appealed against his referral to the criminal court, and a decision on that appeal is expected on November 26.
Depardieu's high profile has made him the most prominent figure caught up in France's response to the #MeToo movement. His career includes more than 200 films and television series, establishing him as a global star long before the recent controversies.
The timing of his initial verdict was particularly striking. The decision was delivered on the first day of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. This is France's most prestigious cinema showcase, where Depardieu had previously won the best actor award in 1990. The juxtaposition of his past triumphs with his current legal struggles has drawn significant attention to the changing landscape of the French film industry.
The withdrawal of the appeal suggests a desire to close the chapter on the 'Les Volets Verts' case. It leaves the focus squarely on the upcoming decision regarding the Charlotte Arnould case, which continues to keep the veteran actor in the public eye.
Legal experts note that the finality of the ruling now means the suspended sentence and registration requirements are no longer subject to debate in the appellate courts. The next major milestone in Depardieu's legal journey will be the outcome of the appeal concerning his referral to the criminal court, scheduled for late November.
