French actors denounce ‘lynching’ of Depardieu

PARIS – Nearly 60 French actors and other prominent figures have denounced the “lynching” of disgraced film legend Gerard Depardieu, who is charged with rape and is facing a litany of other sexual assault claims.

An open letter signed by British actress Charlotte Rampling, former French first lady and singer Carla Bruni, and Depardieu’s former partner, actress Carole Bouquet, claims the star is the victim of a “torrent of hatred”.

Depardieu, who has made more than 200 films and television series, was charged with rape in 2020 and has been accused of sexual harassment and assault by more than a dozen women.

“We can no longer remain silent in the face of the lynching he is facing,” said the letter published in the French newspaper Le Figaro late Monday.

Depardieu — who turns 75 on Wednesday — “is probably the greatest of all actors”, it added.

The letter said…