French actor Gérard Depardieu accused of sexual misconduct by 13 women in new report

Gérard Depardieu is being accused of sexual misconduct by 13 women, according to a bombastic investigative report published Tuesday by a French investigative news site.

The accusations against the celebrated French actor and winemaker were made by actresses, makeup artists and production assistants, who claimed they were harassed, groped or sexually assaulted by the prolific thespian.

Depardieu’s alleged victims told Mediapart the abuse occurred during the shooting of 11 films and series that came out between 2004 and last year.

Three of his accusers worked as extras in the 2015 film “Big House.” One of them, who was 24 at the time, told Mediapart she “felt his fingers trying to slip in to get to my knickers.”

Isabel Butel, who worked as a wardrobe assistant for the movie, recalled being shocked at how Depardieu’s abuse was treated by those around him. “It was kind of ‘Oh that’s Gérard, he’s a bit mischievous,’” she said

An extra for another movie accused the actor of grabbing her buttocks insistently during the shooting of the 2008 comedy “Disco” and suggested they go to his dressing room.

Hélène Darras, who was 26 at the time, only took her complaints to the police last year.

She told Mediapart she didn’t say anything for over a decade out of fear of being blacklisted by casting directors. Darras decided to no longer stay silent because “the film world is full of Gérards and we have to speak up.”

“Disco” director Fabien Onteniente, who also directed Depardieu in the 2013 comedy “Turf,” told Mediapart on one occasion he confronted the famous actor over his behavior on the set.

Depardieu has denied all of the accusations made by the site.

In a statement released by his legal team and obtained by Variety, the 74-year-old Oscar-nominated actor said he did not intend to comment on the piece, “which appears to mix very diverse topics, including some very subjective assessments and/or moral judgments.”

Depardieu was charged with rape and sexual assault in late 2020 in connection to a case that allegedly took place in August 2018. That investigation was dropped by French authorities in 2019 for lack of evidence, but the case was later revived.

In February 2021, the “Green Card” star said he was innocent and had “nothing to fear.”

With News Wire Services