Ares Harvey Weinstein, Gerard Depardieu? The Minister of Culture announced on Friday that “disciplinary proceedings” were being initiated against the French actor by the Legion of Honor’s law firm, against whom there were two complaints of rape and sexual assault.
• Also read: The French Minister of Culture judges that Depardieu is “shameful” for his country
• Also read: Gérard Depardieu was removed from the ranks of the National Order of Quebec
“A Legion of Honor recognizes a man, an artist, an attitude, values. It turns out that I spoke to the Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honor, General Lecointre: a council of the Order of the Legion of Honor will meet and initiate disciplinary proceedings to decide whether this Legion of Honor must be suspended or not. be withdrawn completely or not. It is up to them to decide,” explained Rima Abdul Malak on France 5 in the program “C à vous”.
Gérard Depardieu received the Legion of Honor from French President Jacques Chirac in 1996.
Created by Emperor Napoleon I at the beginning of the 19th century, this award rewards civilians and soldiers for their deeds and service to France. Many artists receive this award.
For the French, the code of the Legion of Honor stipulates that “dishonorable behavior” can lead to reprimand, suspension or expulsion from the order.
Only one measure is planned for foreigners, namely “withdrawal”. It is then the subject of a decree signed by the President of the Republic, the Grand Master of the Order.
For example, in 2017, Emmanuel Macron initiated this disqualification process against Harvey Weinstein, who was accused of sexual assault and rape. The American producer was made a Knight of the Legion of Honor by Nicolas Sarkozy in March 2012.
Archive photo, AFP
Rejection of “cancel culture”
“Of course, Gérard Depardieu will be able to provide contradictory elements in this process, but I understand that it is possible.” It is important to ask this question,” emphasized Rima Abdul Malak, who, however, rejects any form of “cancel culture” towards the film works, in which the 74-year-old French actor appears.
“I think we must continue to see the films that Gérard Depardieu has starred in, we will not stop watching his films. On the other hand, I don't think anyone would want to organize an evening tribute or celebration for Gérard Depardieu today. We will by no means remove his films from our heritage!” Ms. Abdul Malak added.
Traveling to Moissac (Tarn-et-Garonne) with government spokesman Olivier Véran earlier in the day, the minister declared that the actor's comments and attitude during a trip to North Korea in 2018 were “a disgrace for France.”
In these images, revealed in a report by Complément d'investigation broadcast on France 2 in early December, the sacred monster of French cinema multiplies misogynistic and insulting remarks while addressing women, not letting a little girl away from him spare obscene remarks.
“In this report, her attitude is supposed to be facetious and provocative, but in reality she is quite disrespectful, unworthy and shameful towards France,” she added, “disgusting.”
Gérard Depardieu has been accused of rape since 2020 after actress Charlotte Arnould filed a complaint.
At the same time as the broadcast of “Supplement to the Investigation”, a second complaint of sexual assault was filed by the actress Hélène Darras based on a priori prescribed facts during a filming in 2007.
The actor denies these allegations.