Emmanuel Macron denounced a “manhunt” against Gérard Depardieu on Wednesday after a shocking television documentary was broadcast in which the head of state disavowed his culture minister, who questioned the actor's Legion of Honor.
• Also read: Gérard Depardieu is accused of rape by a Spanish journalist
• Also read: Gérard Depardieu’s Legion of Honor: “Disciplinary proceedings” are initiated
“One thing you’ll never see me in is manhunts. I hate this,” the President of the Republic said on France 5 television.
Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak announced on the same channel on Friday that the Grand Chancellery of the Legion of Honor would initiate “disciplinary proceedings” against the star actor.
The Interpreter of 1492: Christopher Columbus is notably the subject of two lawsuits in France for rape and sexual assault and was accused in one of the two cases. He rejects these allegations.
The President of the Republic said he was a “great admirer of Gérard Depardieu”. […] a great actor.” “He made France, our great authors, our great characters known throughout the world […] He makes France proud,” Emmanuel Macron continued, taking the opposite opinion of the culture minister.
For her part, Rima Abdul Malak had assessed the actor's statements published in the magazine Complément d'investigation as “shameful for France”.
AFP
“Not here to preach”
In these images, broadcast on France 2 at the beginning of December, the giant of French cinema, known for having interpreted Commissioner Maigret as Cyrano, multiplies the misogynistic and offensive statements by addressing women and with his obscene statements no little girl spared.
Emmanuel Macron ruled on Wednesday that Rima Abdul Malak had “moved forward” by talking about a procedure that could revoke the actor's award.
“Sometimes there are outbursts over comments made. “I am aware of the context,” he insisted. I understand that there was controversy about this [passages] Reporting,” he added, echoing the arguments of members of the Depardieu family in a column in the Journal du Dimanche.
The latter, including actress Julie Depardieu, denounce a “cabal” in the report and invoke “a set-up” and “suspicious” cutscenes.
Returning to the subject of the Legion of Honor (awarded by Jacques Chirac in 1996), Emmanuel Macron emphasized that it is “an order” of which he is “grand master”, an award “that is not intended to transmit morals” . .
“And that is why we do not take away the Legion of Honor from an artist because of a report or this or that thing, because at this price we would have taken away the Legion of Honor from many artists,” explained the President of the Republic.
“Rape culture”
And finally: “You can accuse someone, there may be victims, but the presumption of innocence also applies.”
“I just want” that Gérard Depardieu “can defend his rights like everyone else” and “can continue to work and create,” emphasized the head of state.
These comments sparked strong reactions from the left and women's advocacy groups.
Olivier Faure, the head of the PS, wrote on his social networks: “Violence against women is a main reason for the five-year term… This president does not believe in anything he proclaims, regardless of the issues.”
“Emmanuel Macron's words on the subject of Depardieu are once again an insult to the movement for the freedom of expression of victims of sexual violence,” criticized environmentalist Sandrine Rousseau in her networks.
Sophie Bussière, spokeswoman for environmentalists, described a president of the republic as the “main promoter of rape culture” in her networks.
Anne-Cécile Mailfert, President of the Women's Foundation, also expressed her displeasure: “There is nothing wrong with the president's statements about Depardieu. I don't have enough tweets to express how outrageous, pathetic and anachronistic it is for the victims.