French star actor Gerrard Depardieu on a test for sexual harassment, told the Paris court on Tuesday that he was not in the habit of “flicking women”, and called the #MeToo movement a “rule of terror”.
In his first statement in the trial, Depardiu said, “I don’t see why I will take a woman, her buttocks, her breasts,” in her first statement in the trial, in which two women are accused of sexual harassment during the shooting of a film in 2021.
“I am not a person who rubs himself against others on the metro,” he said.
Depurdiyu said that he was “not so” in response to the allegations, saying that “are foreigners to me”.
76 -year -old Depardieu, who has acted in over 200 films and television series, has been accused of inappropriate behavior by about 20 women, but this is the first case to be tested.
“I deny all this,” the actor said in a black clothes, packed court room.
He is the highest-profile figure to face allegations in response to French cinema for the #MeToo movement, which he said in court on Tuesday “will become the rule of terror”.
‘Wild animal’
Testing is related to allegations of sexual assault during filming by director Jean Baker in 2021 during the filming of “Less Whats Warts” (“The Green Shutters”).
Anauk Grinburg, a prominent actor in the film, has supported two plaintiffs-a set dresser, 54, only identified as amili, and a 34-year-old assistant director. Both women allege sexual violence.
Another prominent actor Fanny Ardant is expected to testify in favor of Depardiu at the end of this week.
Giving account of his programs during the shooting, Depardyu told the court that “it was a Friday, it was hot, it was humid. I was weighing 150 kg (331 pounds) and I was in a bad mood”.
He said that after a warm discussion with Amy about the options on the set, he caught her from the hips, but only “so I will not slip”.
Amy said that the actor actually behaved like a “wild animal” and “not all was on the same man you see here today”.
She was “constantly commenting about women”, including her dress, she said.
He reiterated his account, first reported in February last year how he faced sexual harassment, sexual harassment and sexist insults during filming in September 2021.
He said that Depardyu claimed that he could “give women an intercourse without touching them” and they “caught her brutally”.
He said that the actor pinned his waist and stomach before catching “Close his feet” around him, continuing his breasts, he said.
He also said that Depardyu made “pornographic comments”.
‘Salty?’
Asked why she did not immediately come forward, Amy said: “I didn’t want to talk about it, I felt humiliated. I was professionally scoring a great run and I knew that if I filed a police report, it would end the film.”
He said that after going about the episode in the industry, he had a difficult time to find work.
Depardieu challenged the allegations related to the use of dirty language.
He said, “What do you mean? You mean ‘cat’? But I say ‘cat’ all the time, even addressing myself, I think it’s fun,” he said.
Depardyu complained that he had not worked for three years.
“It’s terrible what they are doing to me by refusing to contract me!” He said.
He complained of condemnation by women protesters.
He said, “I defend the freedom of speech, I like femininity, but there are no women who are history,” they said.
Tension flew between defense teams.
The actor’s lawyer Jeremy said, “Stop grilling him for an hour! It’s very low! It doesn’t understand, it’s stupid,”
“It’s unbearable to listen to you,” Depurdu’s lawyer made fun of his colleague Carine Dureu Dibolt.
The trial for October 2024 was postponed due to the actor’s sick health.
His lawyer then said that Depardyu had passed through a heart bypass operation and suffered from diabetes which had increased from stress of upcoming testing.
Prior to Peter Veer’s “Green Card”, “The Last Metro”, “Police” and “Cyrano de Burjarack” became a star in Depardiu France since the 1980s, before he was also made a Hollywood celebrity.
He later acted in global performances including Kenneth Brangh’s “Hamlet”, Ang Lee’s “Life of PI” and Netflix’s “Marsile” series.
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is published by a syndicated feed.)