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Depardieu admits ‘grabbing woman’s hips’ but denies sexual assault

The French actor, who is on trial,  could face up to five years in jail if convicted of sexual assault while making a film.

La rédaction de Mediapart

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French actor Gérard Depardieu has told a trial he admits grabbing a woman by her hips, but denies sexual assault, reports The Independent

The 76 year-old is facing charges he groped a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant director during production of the film "Les Volets Verts" ("The Green Shutters") in 2021.

Prosecutors allege the incidents included obscene remarks and inappropriate touching, including an incident in which Depardieu allegedly used his legs to trap one of the women before groping her in front of other crew members. Both women have filed formal complaints.

"I grabbed her hips," Depardieu told his trial on Tuesday, admitting for the first time to physical contact with the set decorator. He admitted he had not told police about the contact when being interrogated. "I grabbed her hip so as not to slip because I was so upset by her, by the heat, it was a Friday towards the end of shooting, I was very tired.”

"I don't see why I would grope a woman," he told the court, adding that he was so overweight at the time that some of what he is accused of - such as trapping one of the women between his legs - would have been impossible.

Read more of this report from The Independent.