Why the Gerard Depardieu Allegations Are Sparking a Watershed Moment for France’s #MeToo Movement
variety.comElsa Keslassy International Correspondent A decade ago, Gerard Depardieu played a character inspired by Dominique Strauss-Kahn — the disgraced former head of the International Monetary Fund who was accused of assaulting a hotel maid — in Abel Ferrara’s “Welcome to New York.” In an ironic twist, the iconic French actor has now become the poster boy for the country’s #MeToo movement, having been charged with rape and faced with over a dozen sexual assault allegations.
But the French remain divided over him due to his profile as a mascot of the country’s cinematic history. He’s starred in over 150 films, including classics such as Jean-Paul Rappeneau’s “Cyrano de Bergerac,” François Truffaut’s “Le Dernier Metro” and Bertrand Blier’s “Going Places.” However, the tide is starting to shift — while French President Emmanuel Macron refused to revoke his Legion of Honor, the Paris wax museum went ahead and removed his statue on Dec.
18. Indeed, Depardieu has triggered a watershed moment for the #MeToo movement in France in a way that cases involving directors Roman Polanski and Christophe Ruggia failed to accomplish.
But why Depardieu, and why now? In 2020, Depardieu was indicted on rape charges in connection to a 2018 lawsuit filed by actor Charlotte Arnould.
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