Gerard Depardieu, 76, was found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on the set of Les Volets Verts in 2021. He received an 18-month suspended prison sentence. Depardieu denied the accusations, claiming his actions were not sexual. The case is part of ongoing allegations against him, including a previous rape accusation from 2018.

French actor Gerard Depardieu was found guilty by a Paris court on Tuesday of sexual assault.

The 76-year-old was convicted on charges of sexually assaulting two women on the set of the film Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters) in 2021.

The court handed Depardieu, who was not present in court for the verdict, an 18-month suspended prison sentence.

During a four-day trial in March, lawyer Jeremie Assous argued that the accusations against the actor were fabricated and urged the court to dismiss the charges.

Paris prosecutors stated that one plaintiff, a set dresser, told investigators she first heard lewd remarks from Depardieu on set. About an hour later, as she was walking off the set, she said Depardieu "brutally grabbed" her. He allegedly pinned her by closing his legs around her, then groped her waist, stomach, and breasts. She also said Depardieu made obscene remarks during the incident.

The second plaintiff, an assistant, testified that Depardieu groped her buttocks and breasts during three separate incidents on the film set.

During the trial, Depardieu denied the accusations. He admitted to using vulgar language on set and acknowledged grabbing the set dresser’s hips during an argument but insisted his actions were not sexual.

Judge Thierry Donard found Depardieu’s version of events unconvincing, according to the Reuters news agency.

While around 20 women have previously accused Depardieu of inappropriate conduct, this was the first case to go to trial.

In 2018, actor Charlotte Arnould accused him of raping her at his home. That case remains active.

Depardieu is among the most prominent public figures to be accused as part of France’s #MeToo movement.

The trial was initially scheduled for October 2024 but was delayed due to Depardieu’s ongoing health problems.