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French Culture Minister Rima Abdul-Malak voiced strong criticism against renowned French actor Gérard Depardieu on Friday following the broadcast of a report unveiling his conduct during a 2018 trip to North Korea. The actor’s words and demeanor, recently highlighted in the television program “Complément d’enquête,” were condemned by the minister as a source of shame for France.

During an official visit to Moissac in Tarn-et-Garonne, accompanied by government spokesperson Olivier Véran, Abdul-Malak firmly opposed what she described as “absolutely shocking remarks” made by Depardieu. These comments, seemingly intended to be humorous and provocative, were perceived by the minister as disrespectful and undignified, evoking a sense of disgust about these revelations.

The incriminated report showed previously unseen footage of Depardieu’s trip, where he made inappropriate remarks and mimicked sexual acts and throat noises, particularly during interactions with women. At a stud farm, he was recorded stating that women “love to ride horses” as it stimulates their clitoris, adding vulgar comments about their sexual pleasure.

While expressing her indignation, Abdul-Malak reminded that the Ministry of Culture does not have the authority to dictate artistic creation, highlighting the total freedom of creation in France. She remarked that the decision to cast Depardieu in future films depends on directors and noted that there currently seem to be few role offers for the actor.

Gérard Depardieu, an internationally famous national icon akin to Alain Delon or Brigitte Bardot, has a career marked by numerous excesses and scandals. He has appeared in over 200 films in both cinema and television. However, his reputation is marred by allegations of rape and sexual assault, including a recent complaint from an actress regarding an incident in 2007, which the actor firmly denies.

Tragic Disappearance of Emmanuelle Debever, First Actress to Accuse Gérard Depardieu

Emmanuelle Debever, known for being the first to denounce Gérard Depardieu’s inappropriate behavior on film sets, committed suicide on December 7. Debever, who had worked with the actor on the set of Andrzej Wajda’s “Danton,” took her life at the age of 60, a fact revealed by the National Audiovisual Institute (INA) on its X account (formerly Twitter). Her tragic death coincided with the airing of “Complément d’enquête : The Fall of the Ogre,” focusing on the accusations of rape and sexual assault against Depardieu. According to Camille Nevers, a journalist at Libération, the actress ended her life by jumping into the Seine.

Debever had met Depardieu on the set of “Danton,” where she played Louison, the very young wife of the main character. She shared her painful experience on Facebook on June 5, 2019, describing Depardieu as a “sacred monster” who had taken advantage of the intimacy of a carriage scene to make unwanted advances. These revelations and her tragic departure shed light on the difficult realities faced by some actresses in the film industry. It is high time to put an end to this. Or are we to wait for more victims suffering from abuse and its ensuing trauma to take their own lives?

With AFP