He may claim his innocence, in the Italian press as well as with the police, Gérard Depardieu was indicted for “rape and sexual assault“after a first investigation closed without follow-up. The actor however claimed the cancellation of this indictment before the chamber of the instruction of Paris, “on the grounds of the absence of serious evidence“, and awaits a verdict for Thursday, March 10, 2022.
Apprentice actress, dancer and pianist, Charlotte Arnould filed a complaint against Gérard Depardieu on August 25, 2018 in a gendarmerie brigade in Lambesc, in the Bouches-du-Rhônes. She accuses him of two rapes that allegedly took place that same month, during the summer. The young woman has known him since childhood: her father ran luxury hotels in ski resorts in Jougne and Les Arcs and had hosted Gérard, Julie and Guillaume Depardieu on several occasions.
“Charlotte didn’t want me to bother Gerardhowever, explains his father to the investigators of the Parisian judicial police, as reported by the newspaper The Parisian. She never wanted me to intervene for her career, she wanted to do it on her own.“But everything would have changed in August 2018, when Gérard Depardieu would have crossed Charlotte and her mother in the street. After having recovered her number, he would have offered to go to his mansion to discuss his young career.
“We talked professionally like this for five minutes before he told me to come over to him and look at my eye makeup.“, Charlotte Arnould tells the police. Gérard Depardieu would then have slipped his hands under his clothes and would have imposed a “digital penetration“, then a cunnilingus”not consented” a few minutes later in the room. The second rape would have taken place the following August 13, while they were rehearsing together the role of Armande in the play Wise women, by Moliere. The young actress would have returned to the scene to express her disgust but would have suffered again, “paralyzed“, a digital rape.
If I had felt any resistance or opposition, she wouldn’t have needed to say a word.
During his free hearing at the Parisian PJ, Gérard Depardieu acknowledged some of the facts. He admits touching the complainant and questioning her about her sex life, but claims that it was “fully consenting“.”I felt in his gaze and his behavior a curiosity and understanding that pushed me to go further, he specifies. If I had felt any resistance or opposition, she wouldn’t have needed to say a word, I would have stopped immediately. Having told me that she was a virgin, I never wanted to practice digital penetration. My wish was in no way to reach her but on the contrary to make sure, with her consent, to give her pleasure..”
Investigators remain intrigued by certain messages sent by Charlotte Arnould five days after the second reported rape. The young woman replied to Gérard Depardieu: “My sweet Gerard, I learned the scene and I hope to work it with you soon“She would also have mentioned her desire to sing Barbara with him at the Cirque d’Hiver.”I needed to expel the death that dwells in meshe reminds the PJ. I didn’t want to believe it again. I was in denial, amazement, dissociation. I did not realize the seriousness of the facts…“
Gérard Depardieu remains presumed innocent of the charges against him until a court decision is rendered. Find all the information on the Depardieu Affair in the newspaper Le Parisien of March 9, 2022.