Gérard Depardieu avoids expulsion from the Legion of Honor

Membership of the Legion of Honor is the highest French distinction. Gérard Depardieu is now making his order "available": a documentary film proves the actor's sexist treatment of women and children. A female colleague also accuses him of sexual assault.

Actor Gérard Depardieu, who has been accused of rape and sexual violence, has "resigned" his membership of the French Legion of Honor. This was announced by Depardieu's lawyers. At the same time, they criticized statements made by Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak, whom they accused of "a further blow to the already dying presumption of innocence".

On Friday, the Minister of Culture had announced disciplinary proceedings by the Order of the Legion of Honor against the actor and described his behaviour towards women as a "disgrace to France". Depardieu has been under investigation for allegations of rape since the end of 2020. Actress Charlotte Arnould accuses the actor of raping her twice in his Paris apartment in 2018 when she was 22 years old.

Last week, actress Hélène Darras also accused her colleague of sexual assault during filming in 2007. Depardieu denies all accusations. Numerous other women have accused Depardieu of sexual assault in the past, but have not yet pressed charges.

Minister "disgusted" by documentary

Induction into the Legion of Honor is the highest distinction awarded in France. Depardieu was inducted in 1996 by the then President Jacques Chirac. The Code of the Legion of Honor stipulates that "conduct contrary to honour" can be punished with a reprimand, suspension of membership or expulsion.

Minister Abdul Malak was "disgusted" by Depardieu's disrespectful and sexist treatment of women, referring to a recently aired documentary. In the documentary, the actor can be seen making numerous vulgar comments to his young female translator during a filming trip to North Korea. "I weigh 124 kilograms, with an erection 126", he says, for example. About a ten-year-old girl on a horse, he says: "When she gallops, she has an orgasm." Depardieu's lawyers called the program "controversial and contestable". It had "broadcast images that were recorded in the sphere of intimacy and privacy".

Depardieu is one of the most famous French actors. He has worked with the most famous directors and actresses in France and has appeared in more than 200 films. He has played the eloquent Cyrano de Bergerac as well as a washed-up pop singer, a slaughterhouse worker, an Alzheimer's patient and Obelix.