Sexual Assault Probe Involving Actor Gérard Depardieu Dropped by French Prosecutors

French prosecutors have dropped a sexual assault case involving allegations from 2007 against actor Gérard Depardieu due to the statute of limitations.

Depardieu, 75, who is also facing a separate rape charge and has been accused of sexual misconduct by several women, maintains his innocence.

Actor Hélène Darras' claims that Depardieu groped her during a film shoot in 2007 were not pursued by the authorities, although she had filed a formal complaint and discussed the incident with the media and police.

Despite the difficulty of speaking out, Darras aimed to challenge those who diminished such allegations.

In another incident, Depardieu was charged in 2020 with rape and sexual assault based on complaints by actress Charlotte Arnould related to a 2018 incident. Arnould's legal representation seeks investigation into derogatory comments Depardieu allegedly made about women.

Spanish journalist Ruth Baza also accused Depardieu of rape dating back nearly three decades in Paris, though the case is unlikely to proceed in France due to legal time constraints.

The recurring allegations against Depardieu have sparked controversy in France, with debates erupting between feminist organizations and his supporters, including President Emmanuel Macron, who initially defended Depardieu. However, Macron conceded he hadn't fully acknowledged the gravity of the victims' voices.