September, Thursday 19, 2024

New documentary uncovers Gérard Depardieu's offensive comments


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Gérard Depardieu, France's most famous actor, is facing new criticism after a TV documentary aired showing him making lewd comments about women. The programme, which was broadcast on Thursday, features footage of the 74-year-old star behaving inappropriately during a shoot in North Korea in 2018. In the documentary's behind-the-scenes footage, Depardieu repeatedly makes embarrassing remarks to his female interpreter, commenting on his weight and making crude jokes about his underpants. He is also shown making sexual comments at a riding stable. The documentary supports recent allegations of sexual misconduct made against Depardieu by several women in the film industry. Depardieu denies the rape and sexual assault allegations brought against him, insisting that any sexual contact was consensual. However, a second case was opened after actress Hélène Darras accused Depardieu of groping her during a film shoot in 2007. The prosecutor's office has suggested that the case may be dropped due to the passage of time. Other women featured in the documentary describe a sexualized atmosphere when Depardieu was present on set and recall being targets of his inappropriate behavior. Depardieu, who grew up in Châteauroux, France, has had a successful career spanning over 200 films and is known for his troubled childhood and provocative behavior. The documentary also explores his claim that as a child, he participated in "rapes" in Châteauroux, a statement he first made in an interview in 1978. Feminist activists have targeted Depardieu since the rise of the MeToo movement, and he has faced multiple allegations of inappropriate conduct. In response, Depardieu wrote an open letter denying the accusations, stating that he has always been provocative but is not a rapist or predator. After watching the documentary, Depardieu's former agent expressed discomfort but also suggested that the documentary may not present the whole story and could be seen as a media show trial.