Emmanuel Macron denounced the “intolerable” silence and complacency of the cinema world around cases of sexual assault in an interview with Variety. The head of state has, however, been accused of reproducing these mistakes…
Emmanuel Macron had the opportunity to return to what he considers to be “the great cause of his five-year term”, the fight against violence against women, in an unexpected interview granted to Variety and published on October 9. After a succession of subjects linked to French culture and cultural policy, the American media questioned the President of the Republic on the #MeToo movement which “continues to gain momentum in France” and on its impact on the actors and actresses.
“We must first talk about the victims. Women who have suffered sexual and gender-based violence and whose lives have been traumatized, whose career, in some cases, has been destroyed,” assured Emmanuel Macron. Which denounced “a form of complacency, of omerta, of habits which had taken hold” in the cinema sector “and which are intolerable”. The head of state was however accused of taking part in this complacency towards an artist accused of sexual assault: Gérard Depardieuwho is indicted for rape.
The scene dates back to at least December 2023 and the broadcast of a documentary from Further investigation showing the French actor making comments that fall under the umbrella of sexual harassment. Faced with strong reactions and criticism against the actor, Emmanuel Macron disapproved of what he described as a “manhunt” against Gérard Depardieu, on the set of C to youon France 5. “I am a great admirer of Gérard Depardieu. He is an immense actor, a genius of his art. […] He makes France proud” added the Head of State regarding the artist under investigation. He then recalled and defended the principle of presumption of innocence, from which each person accused benefits until justice renders a decision.
Do not fall into “a system of denunciation where everyone is excluded”
This last point was not debated, unlike other statements on Gérard Depardieu considered too complacent due to the accusations weighing on the actor. “I have no regrets for having defended the presumption of innocence for a public figure, an artist in this case” Emmanuel Macron then reaffirmed at a press conference on January 17, 2024. He however felt that he had not done proof of “no complacency” towards the actor Gérard Depardieu and having “never defended an aggressor in the face of victims”.
In VarietyEmmanuel Macron does not deviate from his position: “We cannot fall into a system of denunciation where everyone is excluded without having the possibility of proving their innocence or responding to the accusations” in reference to the new Caesar rule which makes anyone accused of sexual assault ineligible. But this time, the President of the Republic had several words for the victims: “We must always find the right rules so that victims are respected, that their words are taken into account, that justice is done and above all that everyone is protected for the future.” Emmanuel Macron claiming to be “unassailable in the fight against violence against women”, he works on his speech with nuance.