Gérard Depardieu's obscene comments and his alleged sexual violence continue to cause a stir in France. “No, we are not proud of Gérard Depardieu,” said former French President Francois Hollande on Thursday in response to comments made by his successor Emmanuel Macron, who defended the actor the day before.
Posted at 3:43 p.m.
Emmanuel Macron “talked about Gérard Depardieu, his talent, the presumption of innocence,” said François Hollande at France Inter. I will tell you about the 14 women who were attacked. I will tell you about humiliated women. I'll tell you about the women who were upset by the images they saw. I will talk to you about all these women who, through Gérard Depardieu, see what violence, domination and contempt can be. This was expected from the President of the Republic. It's about talking about women and not just saying that Gérard Depardieu was a great actor. »
“No,” he summarized, “we are not proud of Gérard Depardieu.” »
On Wednesday, in a special broadcast on France 5, the President of the Republic was asked to comment on the Gérard Depardieu affair, which has rocked France since the broadcast of a shocking documentary. For him, Gérard Depardieu is a “huge actor” who “makes France proud.” “One thing you’ll never see me in is manhunts. I hate it,” he said.
Emmanuel Macron also responded to Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak's proposal to dismiss Depardieu from his Legion of Honor. The actor's lawyers said he “provided” her. “Will I start withdrawing the Legion of Honor from artists or officials if they say things that shock me? Macron asked. The answer is no. »
At the beginning of December, Gérard Depardieu was the focus of a report by Complément d'investigation on France 2, in which we see him making misogynistic and shocking comments. The actress Hélène Darras, who testified in the report, filed a complaint against the actor, even though the facts she is accusing him of are required by French law.
Earlier this week, Gérard Depardieu was reported for an alleged rape in 1995. The alleged victim, Spanish journalist and writer Ruth Baza, was 23 years old at the time. In 2020, the French star was also accused of rape after being harassed by actress Charlotte Arnould.
Gérard Depardieu denies all of these allegations. On Sunday, the actor's family denounced an “unprecedented plot” and a “collective anger” against him.
Gérard Depardieu was removed from the National Order of Quebec last week after being knighted in 2002.