Gérard Depardieu found guilty of sexual assault in landmark French trial
PARIS – A French court on Tuesday found Gérard Depardieu guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a film set, sentencing the French film icon to an 18-month suspended prison term.
Judges said both women gave consistent, credible accounts of being groped by the actor, with witness testimony supporting their claims.
While the court acknowledged some uncertainty around the timing and location of Sarah’s assault, it emphasized the strength of her descriptions and corroboration.
Depardieu, 76, had denied all wrongdoing, and his lawyer said he would appeal.
The verdict marks a major moment for France’s long-stalled reckoning with #MeToo, and with broader questions about how assault is defined, particularly within the film industry.
“With this decision, we can no longer say [that Gérard Depardieu] is not a sexual abuser,” Carine Durrieu-Diebolt, a lawyer for one of the victims, told reporters outside the courtroom shortly after the verdict was announced.
The case was originally expected to be heard in late 2024, but it was postponed multiple times, first due to scheduling issues, and then for medical reasons cited by the defense.
The trial opened in March 2025 and lasted four days.
Prosecutors in March asked for the 18-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of up to €200,000 (roughly $221,000).
Country Joe McDonald, anti-war singer who electrified Woodstock, dies at 84
Country Joe and the Fish's best-known song, "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag," captured the growing anti-war sentiment of the Vietnam era.
OpenAI robotics leader resigns over concerns about Pentagon AI deal
A senior member of OpenAI's robotics team said guardrails around certain AI uses were not sufficiently defined before OpenAI announced an agreement with the Pentagon.
Five key takeaways from an annual briefing by China’s foreign minister
Speaking at a political gathering in Beijing, China's foreign minister Wang Yi outlined his country's positions on the war in Iran and general relations with America.
Police investigate an explosion outside the U.S. Embassy in Oslo
Norwegian police are investigating an explosion outside the U.S. Embassy in Oslo early Sunday, officials said.
Decades after violence in Selma spurred the Voting Rights Act, organizers worry about its fate
Alabama is marking the 61st anniversary of a key event in the Civil Rights Movement, when state troopers attacked voting rights marchers in Selma. But the celebration come as the U.S. Supreme Court considers a case that could limit a provision of the Voting Rights Act.
Photos: These bold women stand up for justice, rights … and freedom
To mark International Women's Day, we feature portraits and profiles of determined women around the world.
