French actor Gérard Depardieu has been ordered to stand trial over allegations of rape and sexual assault reported in 2018.
His accuser, actor Charlotte Arnould, stated she is relieved that her case will finally go to court, seven years after the initial complaint was filed.
Depardieu, 76, has maintained that the relationship with Arnould was consensual.
Earlier this year, he was convicted of sexually assaulting two crew members of a film production and was placed on a list of sex offenders, although he did not receive jail time. He has consistently denied those allegations as well.
“Seven years later, seven years of horror and hell... I think I'm having trouble realizing how huge this is. I'm relieved,” Arnould conveyed in a social media post.
Arnould's lawyer, Carine Durrieu Diebolt, confirmed that Depardieu has been formally ordered to trial for the alleged assault, which included allegations of rape by digital penetration at his Paris home in August 2018.
“My client and I are relieved and confident. This is a form of judicial truth for Charlotte while she awaits the criminal trial,” Diebolt stated.
The trial date has not yet been set.
In a letter to Le Figaro, published earlier in 2023, Depardieu refuted the allegations, declaring, “Never, ever, have I abused a woman.”
He further mentioned, “There was never any coercion, violence, or protest between us,” referring to Arnould.
The case was initially dismissed due to insufficient evidence, however, following Arnould’s civil complaint, a judicial investigation was initiated in the summer of 2020.
