In a significant court appearance on Tuesday, renowned French actor Gérard Depardieu addressed allegations of sexual assault, admitting to having grabbed a female colleague by the hips but firmly denying the assault claims. This testimony marks the first time he has responded publicly to a series of complaints filed against him following the #MeToo movement, which has seen a surge in accusations of sexual misconduct in France.

Over the past few years, multiple women have accused Depardieu of various offenses, including rape and sexual harassment. At least six women have lodged complaints, prompting a wave of scrutiny on his past behavior. In this particular case, he faced off against a set decorator named Amélie, who accused the actor of inappropriately touching her on the set of the film "Les Volets Verts," which they both worked on in 2022. Depardieu claimed that he merely grabbed her to prevent her from slipping, insisting it was not an act of aggression.

The actor, who has built a celebrated career with appearances in over 230 films, expressed concerns about the repercussions of the #MeToo movement on his life, stating it has cast a shadow over his reputation, effectively stalling his career for the last three years. "I've been deprived of my work," noted the 76-year-old, who contrasted his experience with that of Amélie, leading to two vastly different accounts of their interaction.

Amélie recounted a scenario in which Depardieu exerted inappropriate influence on set, making lewd remarks and exhibiting troubling behavior. The actor, seated on a cube-stool he brought to the trial, rejected these claims as distortions of the truth and expressed frustration over the "terror" that he believes the movement has instigated against him.

The court's decision could result in a hefty penalty for Depardieu should he be found guilty, potentially facing a fine of up to 75,000 euros and a prison sentence of up to five years, serving as a defining case in the continuing evolution of France’s cultural dialogue around sexual misconduct and accountability.