French President Emmanuel Macron denounced this Wednesday (20), “a manhunt” against actor Gérard Depardieu, accused of rape and sexual assault, and said that the Legion of Honor should not be used to censor anyone, referring to to the possibility of withdrawing an honor from the actor.
“There is one thing you will never see me take part in, which is manhunts, I hate them,” said the French head of state in an interview with France 5.
Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak announced last Friday that the Legion of Honor order’s council would meet to “initiate disciplinary proceedings”, which could lead to the actor being stripped of the Legion of Honor.
Macron contradicted the minister by declaring himself a great admirer of Depardieu, 74, who starred in more than 200 films and received the highest distinction from the French state in 1996.
The minister’s statements came after the release, at the beginning of the month, of a report on France 2 in which the actor made misogynistic comments. His behavior “embarrasses France”, declared Rima.
Macron, however, insisted that the actor “made France, our great authors, our great characters, known throughout the world. He makes France proud.”
Depardieu has been accused since December 2020 of rape and sexual assault against actress Charlotte Arnould, who reported two rapes in August 2018 at the actor’s Parisian residence.
Actress Hélène Darras also denounced him in September for a sexual assault suffered in 2007, which was allegedly prescribed.
Spanish journalist and writer Ruth Baza announced on Tuesday that she filed a complaint of sexual assault against the actor for events that allegedly occurred in Paris in 1995.
Depardieu also faces a dozen accusations of sexual violence from 13 women.
The French actor denied all accusations in October, and his family denounced an “unprecedented persecution” against him.
In 2017, Macron stripped Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein of his Legion of Honor following a series of allegations of sexual harassment and rape.
Source: Folha
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