Actor Gerard Depardieu on Monday asked for a delay to the start of his trial on sexual assault charges, saying his health prevented him from attending the proceedings, with numerous other complaints and a possible second court case already lying in wait.
The actor is the highest-profile figure to face accusations in French cinema’s version of the #MeToo movement, triggered in 2017 by allegations against US producer Harvey Weinstein.
Depardieu, 75, was expected to appear at the criminal court hearing that was due to start in Paris at 1:30 pm (1230 GMT).
But just hours before the start, his lawyer Jeremie Assous said the actor would not be able to attend.
“Gerard Depardieu is extremely affected and unfortunately his doctors have forbid him from being present at the hearing, which is why he will ask for a postponement to a later date so that he can attend”, Assous told Franceinfo.
Depardieu faces charges of abuse that allegedly occurred during a 2021 film shoot. The names of the two women accusing him have not been made public.
One of the plaintiffs, a set dresser now aged 55, reported in February that she had suffered sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexist insults while filming director Jean Becker’s “Les Volet Verts” (“The Green Shutters”) in a private house in Paris.
