Depardieu family denounces 'conspiracy' against French film icon / Photo: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT - AFP/File
-
JUMO and Standard Bank launch Social Finance Framework to scale inclusive finance in Africa
-
UK lawmakers to vote again on failed assisted dying bill
-
Doomsday tech: could AI really kill us all?
-
India welcomes Russia, Iran leaders for BRICS summit overshadowed by war
-
Yemen's Houthis complete takeover of Bab al-Mandab area: govt official to AFP
-
Italian feminist fighter Emma Bonino dies
-
Toronto film festival kicks off with ode to political activism
-
White blazers, pink ties as North Koreans land in Japan for Asian Games
-
French comedy show 'Call my agent' makes film comeback
-
Stocks tumble as oil and inflation worries fan rate hike bets
-
Indonesia seeks to bring back baby orangutans allegedly trafficked to India
-
Tiny Elversberg 'leave Earth's orbit' as Bayern come to town
-
World Cup winner Juan Mata hangs up boots at Melbourne Victory
-
Indonesia to bring back baby orangutans allegedly trafficked to India
-
From potato chips to silicon chips: lobbies cover all in Brussels
-
Business booms as lobbyists push 'priorities' in EU capital
-
Fast-pace dance takes I.Coast's working-class streets by storm
-
All Blacks coaching great Steve Hansen joins rugby league side Manly
-
Putin in India for BRICS summit overshadowed by war
-
'Desperate' Sabalenka books US Open title clash with Rybakina
-
No jet lag for 49ers as Purdy routs Rams in Australia
-
Rybakina rallies to beat Gauff, book US Open final with Sabalenka
-
Mourinho seeking 'killer' Vinicius as Real Madrid face Rayo
-
Manchester derby poses Maresca's first big test, Chelsea aim to end Hull Honeymoon
-
Vance assails Democratic 'hatred' in fiery US midterm pitch
-
It's all coming back: Celine Dion fans gear up for Paris return
-
Celine Dion: the Quebec star's long and painful road to return
-
Fans celebrate Celine Dion's Paris return with giant karaoke
-
Stocks tumble as oil and inflation fan rate hike bets
-
'Insane' Sabalenka powers past Pegula into US Open final
-
Philippine Coast Guard battles smoke in search for ferry fire missing
-
Hong Kong sentences Tiananmen activists to between 5 and 7 years in jail
-
Researchers eye AI revolution in natural disaster forecasts
-
Yu Zidi: fearless swimming prodigy, 13, with Olympics in her sights
-
Indian filmmaker Anuparna Roy: blocked at home, feted in Europe
-
Japan feminist theatre fights misogyny in 'cute' fashion
-
Appreciation, anger await as Trump heads to Irish golf resort
-
Vance assails Democratic 'hate' in fiery US midterm pitch
-
Ronaldo takes last crack at Asian glory as Saudi teams set to dominate
-
Party leaders trade barbs before Swedish election
-
Statecraft or scripture: Why Pacific nations want Jerusalem embassies
-
China, Iran among countries that have used AI to aid spying, Anthropic says
-
Hong Kong to sentence Tiananmen vigil activists for subversion
-
Sabalenka storms past Pegula to reach US Open final in bid for three-peat
-
US braces for inflation report that may push Fed to hike rates
-
Two-time defending champion Sabalenka powers past Pegula into US Open final
-
Australia unveil Slingsby-led elite team for America's Cup challenge
-
Tremor recorded as Israel says Hezbollah tunnels destroyed in south Lebanon
-
Encision Completes $80,000 Private Placement
-
Allied Universal CEO Steve Jones Shares 9/11 Remembrance Message
Depardieu family denounces 'conspiracy' against French film icon
The family of Gerard Depardieu on Sunday denounced an "unprecedented conspiracy" against the French film star, charged with rape and facing new scrutiny over sexist comments.
Mounting accusations of sexual harassment, as well as newly released footage of Depardieu making obscene comments, are forcing a fresh debate about sexism and sexual violence in French cinema.
Culture Minister Rima Abdul-Malak said this week that the 74-year-old actor's behaviour shames France, noting that he might also be stripped of the Legion of Honour, the country's top award.
"Of course, we are often shocked by Gerard's comments, but our father/grandfather/uncle is being the target of an unprecedented conspiracy," several members of his family, including his daughter, actress Julie Depardieu, said in a letter published in France's flagship Sunday newspaper, Le Journal du Dimanche (JDD).
Deploring a "collective rage" against the actor, they said that "in private, with his children, he is an extremely modest, delicate and even prudish person!"
On Saturday, the film star's lawyers told AFP that he was putting his Legion of Honour award at the disposal of the minister.
On Friday, the culture minister said that the Grand Chancery of the Legion of Honour would initiate a "disciplinary procedure" to decide whether to strip Depardieu of the country's top honour.
Depardieu's lawyers, Beatrice Geissmann Achille and Christian Saint-Palais, questioned whether it was part of Abdul Malak's role to participate "so actively in the manhunt" and "media lynching" to which they believed their client was being subjected.
Depardieu was charged with rape in 2020 and has also faced 13 accusations of sexual harassment or assault.
Earlier this month, broadcaster France 2 showed the actor on a 2018 trip to North Korea repeatedly making explicit sexual comments in the presence of a female interpreter and sexualising a small girl riding a horse.
Depardieu has denied any wrongdoing.
On Saturday, a Belgian municipality stripped Depardieu of the title of honorary citizen, and earlier this week the Canadian province of Quebec revoked its top honour over his "scandalous" comments against women.
K.Hill--AT