Will Gérard Depardieu lose France’s highest award? His Legion of Honor membership should be checked.
Gérard Depardieu (74) could be excluded from the Legion of Honor. The French actor’s membership is apparently under review after several women made allegations of sexual violence against him. A television documentary has also just aired in which, according to media reports, Depardieu can be seen making offensive comments about women.
The Legion of Honor is France’s highest honor. Depardieu was awarded it in 1996. French Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak, 44, said she had asked the committee responsible for the Legion of Honor to initiate disciplinary proceedings to examine whether Depardieu’s membership should be suspended or revoked.
Culture Minister is “disgusted”
Abdul Malak reportedly said she was “disgusted” by Depardieu’s comments, which he said were made during a trip to North Korea in 2018 and which were aired in a documentary on France 2 earlier this month. “Shocking comments that shame France,” said the politician. There have been a number of allegations against Depardieu in recent years, including accusations of rape and sexual violence.
The actor had previously “firmly rejected” the allegations through his lawyer. Depardieu also vehemently protested his innocence in a public letter published as a guest article in the French newspaper “Le Figaro”.
Depardieu is one of France’s most famous actors. He has also had Russian citizenship since 2013. He has made countless films in his more than 50-year career. Depardieu’s best-known films include “Cyrano de Bergerac”, “The Count of Monte Cristo” and “Asterix & Obelix”.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
