Gerard Depardieu, accused of sexual violence by 16 women, denies in an open letter

Since December 2020, they have been charged with “Rape and sexual violenceAfter the complaint of actress Charlotte Arnoul, who accuses him of rape in 2018 and 15 other women, whose last testimony dates back to last July, Gerard Depardieu decided to break his silence.

In a long-term survey published last April, Mediapart also gave the floor to 13 of these women with nurturing testimonials. The actor, who is presumed innocent, denied it.Formally, all charges that are likely to be subject to criminal law“.

While several performances of his show “Depardieu chante Barbara” were disrupted by demonstrations, the 74-year-old actor posted last night. Le FigaroAn open letter in which he disputes the allegations.

“I can no longer agree with what I hear, what I read about myself for several months. I thought I didn’t care, but no, not really. It all comes down to me. Even worse, it turns me off. I can’t sing Barbara today because the woman who wanted to sing Barbara with me accused me of rape. Finally I want to tell you my truth.

I have never, ever abused a woman

I have never, ever abused a woman. Hurting a woman is like kicking your own mother in the stomach.

A woman came to my house for the first time, she walked lightly, she went up to my room by my will. Now she says that she was raped there. He came back a second time. There was never any coercion, violence or protest between us. He wanted to sing Barbara’s songs with me in Cirque d’Hiver. I said no. He filed a complaint.

So I was told he was under the influence. But we are all influenced. I myself am influenced: my DNA, family, society, money… If he was influenced, it was under his influence, he was never influenced by me.“

“Mr. Depardieu is not a patron of the women he claims to be”

Statements that caused a sharp reaction from the plaintiff’s lawyer. he asked France info Regarding this letter, Maitre Carine Durier-Diebolt said:Shocked and scandalized because Mr. Depardieu says that he is revealing his truth, but it’s not really Charlotte’s truth and it’s not really going to be the one who defends justice.“.

The lawyer adds:Charlotte’s truth is that she came at his invitation because he asked her how she was since they knew each other. When reading it, we get the impression that we are talking about an anonymous woman“.

It will be up to the courts.

It specifies: “She was the daughter of a friend who had worn the skirt as a child, so there was trust and paternal respect for her. He was the one who invited her to see how she was, and in this situation you don’t expect sexual acts after ten minutes..”

Master Carine Durrieu-Diebolt updates “We have a video of sexual acts that were committed unexpectedly. He recognizes sexual acts“. (…)”Mr Depardieu is not the protector of women he claims to be when 15 women accuse him of sexual assault and says he is neither an abuser nor a predator, that is for the courts to decide.“.