French President Emmanuel Macron came out in support of Depardieu in his comments.
Actor Gérard Depardieu the open letter published in support divides French film circles as well as politicians.
Depardieu, who has been one of France’s most famous actors since the 1970s, has been accused of sexual violence several times in recent years. The authorities have launched an official investigation into the suspected rape in 2018.
Depardieu has denied wrongdoing.
The public debate about Depardieu has been intense in France since the television channel France 2 aired a documentary in December showing his sexist and offensive comments and interviewing women who reported sexual violence.
In the aftermath of the documentary, the French-speaking Canadian province of Quebec stripped Depardieu of the medal they had awarded him. The Swiss broadcasting company RTS, on the other hand, decided not to show films with Depardieu in the lead role for the time being.
Friends and colleagues who support Depardieu, on the other hand, published in the newspaper Le Figaro during the Christmas holidays, an open letter disapproving of Depardieu’s treatment.
– Because of the lynching against him, we can no longer remain silent, the open letter reads.
Among the more than 50 signatories of the open letter are, among others, a singer and the spouse of the former president of France Carla Bruni and Depardieu’s former girlfriend, an actress Carole Bouquet. The authors demand, among other things, respect for the presumption of innocence.
The open letter raised the rounds of public debate even more, and so far at least three critical responses to it have been published. Also among their signatories are many well-known cultural figures and filmmakers.
Macron and the minister on different lines
The attitude towards Depardieu also seems to divide leading French politicians. Minister of Culture Rima Abdul-Malak said in December that Depardieu’s behavior is a shame for France. According to Abdul-Malaki, the intention is to start a process that could lead to Depardieu losing the highly regarded Legion of Honor.
Just days later, the president Emmanuel Macron took a different position from his minister in his own comments and said that Depardieu has become the target of a car chase.
– He is a great actor, a genius in his art, Macron said according to the news agency Reuters.
– France can be proud of him.
Sources: AFP, Reuters