PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron took the facet of movie star Gérard Depardieu in opposition to what he known as “a manhunt” because the French actor faces new scrutiny over obscene and sexist remarks.
Throughout an interview with the France 5 TV channel, the French president praised Depardieu’s contribution to filmmaking. “I’m a fantastic admirer of Gérard Depardieu, he is a superb actor … He has helped introduce our nice authors to the world, he makes France proud,” he stated.
As reported by POLITICO, Macron has distanced himself from his authorities’s choice to doubtlessly strip Depardieu of his Légion d’Honneur, within the wake of allegations of sexism and sexual assault. Depardieu has been charged with rape in 2020 — he has denied any wrongdoing — and a recently-released documentary, that includes the actor making obscene remarks and sexualizing a younger lady, has brought on recent outrage.
On Wednesday, the French president confirmed he didn’t want Depardieu, who has starred in over 200 movies, to be stripped of his Légion d’Honneur, which is the very best order of benefit in France.
“The Légion d’Honneur is an order … which isn’t there to moralize [people]. So it’s not on the premise of a documentary that we take away the Légion d’Honneur,” he stated.
Depardieu has rejected all accusations in opposition to him, and his household has denounced an “unprecedented cabal” focusing on him.
Macron’s response is in line with his previous strategy to accusations of sexual violence in opposition to high-profile figures. Following rape accusations in opposition to former minister and TV persona Nicolas Hulot, the French president stated the precedence must be “the effectivity of [the] justice system” and that the case must be handled with out “complacency” and with out “[launching] an inquisition.”
