After several months of investigation, Mediapart unveiled – in April 2023 – an investigation into Gérard Depardieu accused by thirteen women of sexual violence. Facts which would have mainly taken place on filming between 2004 and 2022. Witnesses and alleged victims came out of the silence to denounce the omerta around the icon of the 7ᵉ art.
“When the director said: ‘Action’, he grabbed an extra, who was in a skirt, by the buttocks. She was very badly”, said a member of the team of Turf. Sarah Brooks who distinguished herself in the Netflix series Marseilles also wanted to testify: “I say out loud: ‘There is Gégé who puts his hand in my shorts’. He replied: ‘Bah what, I thought you wanted to succeed in the cinema?’ Everyone laughed, so he continued.” Other equally chilling revelations caused a stir in the media.
For his part, through his lawyers, Gérard Depardieu refuted all the accusations: “Mr. Depardieu does not intend to respond to this veritable indictment, which jumbles up very diverse subjects, some of which are based on very subjective assessments and/or moral judgments. He formally denies all the accusations likely to come under the criminal law”.
This Tuesday, May 23, 2023, Charlotte Arnould, who filed a complaint against the actor for rape, agreed to speak – openly – with Aurélie Casse, journalist for BFM-TV. As she recalled, Gérard Depardieu was above all a friend of his father. He knew her from an early age. The musician had just celebrated her 22nd birthday when she was attacked by the star.
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“I feel like I’m going to die…”
Without a filter, the native of Aix-en-Provence wanted to indulge in the heavy repercussions on her daily life. “Anorexia, bulimia, hyperphagia… There were periods of scarification, alcohol, taking medication… In fact, all the symptoms we know“, revealed Charlotte Arnould who has several times thought of the worst.
In the midst of turmoil, the young woman is violent to hang on. “It is true that there is a terrible psychiatrization of symptoms […] It’s just part of post-traumatic stress.” she added. “There are times when I feel like I’m going to die.” Marked in her flesh, Charlotte Arnould continues to be haunted by flashes: “Because I relive things, the facts identically. So feeling of imminent death, huge anxiety attack, night terror, nightmare… In fact, everything is impacted. My whole being is impacted“.
With her speech, the actress hopes that other women cited in the investigation of Mediapart file a complaint in turn against the ex-companion of Carole Bouquet: “The fear is starting to change sides a little bit. Hopefully this is just the start of something. […] All together, we are so much stronger than them.” Until the end of the trial, Gérard Depardieu remains presumed innocent of the charges against him.
BN
Charlotte Arnould, actress who accuses Gérard Depardieu of rape: “I’m not well but I manage to function” pic.twitter.com/ix6GcEBxMK
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) May 23, 2023