Accused of sexual misconduct by around ten women, Gérard Depardieu is removed from the National Order of Quebec.
The Prime Minister of Quebec, François Legault, proceeded on Wednesday to the removal of the French actor, named knight of the Order in 2002.
Last week, the show Further investigation released previously unseen images of the cinema icon during the filming of a never-before-broadcast documentary by writer and director Yann Moix filmed in North Korea in 2018.
In front of the cameras, the actor makes obscene comments about the women he meets, including a 10-year-old girl. He mimes sexual acts, speaks of “the beam in his underwear” to his interpreter and calls the riders “big sluts”.
According to François Legault, these remarks go “against the values of the National Order”.
“The scandalous remarks made by Gérard Depardieu in front of the cameras shocked the international public, with good reason. His behavior tarnishes the reputation of the members of the National Order of Quebec. I have therefore taken the decision to order his removal from the Order, effective immediately,” he said in a press release.
This is the first time that the Council of the Order has unanimously recommended the removal of a member, the ultimate sanction in the event of notorious misconduct or serious misconduct.
In a Mediapart investigation published in April, 13 women accused Depardieu of having harassed, touched or sexually assaulted them, which he always denied.
In September, a complaint was filed by actress Hélène Darras, who claims to have been sexually assaulted by the actor on the set of the film Disco in 2007.
This is not the first accusation against him. Depardieu was indicted in 2020 following a complaint filed by actress Charlotte Arnould, who accused him of rape at her Parisian home.