Gérard Depardieu Faces Sexual Assault Charges

French actor Gérard Depardieu is facing sexual assault charges related to incidents on the set of the film 'The Green Shutters' in 2021, involving allegations from two women who claim he groped them and made sexually explicit remarks. Depardieu, who is 75 years old, will not attend the trial due to health issues, as confirmed by his lawyer, who has requested a postponement so the actor can participate. The case is being viewed as a significant moment in France's ongoing reckoning with sexual violence in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Depardieu has denied all allegations, suggesting they are false and part of a targeted effort against him. His legal troubles also include a separate complaint of rape dating back to 2018. The trial is set against a backdrop of increasing scrutiny of sexual misconduct in the French film industry, with a media backlash against the actor dividing opinions within the cinema community.