Since December 7, Gérard Depardieu has caused a tidal wave in the media landscape, after the broadcast of an issue of Further investigation in which images of his trip to North Korea were revealed. The 75-year-old actor was notably filmed sexualizing a child 10 years old, or even harassing his tourist guide, making obscene remarks. Around fifty personalities from the seventh art, among others, flew to his aid shouting lynching in a stand published in the columns of Figarothe day of Christmas.
It was enough for other celebrities to join forces, one after the other, to denounce the behavior of Gérard Depardieu, indicted for rape and, at the same time, the support he receives, despite serious accusations of sexual assault. This Monday, January 1, these are our colleagues from Release who revealed a new platform, signed by a collective of more than 150 personalities from the cultural sector, to counter that of Figaro. Baptized “Art is not a totem of impunity”, she is carried by Alexandra LamyThomas Jolly, Muriel Robin, Swann Arlaud or Alice Belaïdi, Énora Malagré, Marilou Berry, Tania Dutel, Fauve Hautot, Tristan Lopin, Lucie Lucas, Waly Dia and Caroline Vigneaux.
The signatories recall that “defending art also means saying that being an artist should not exempt us from all responsibility”, by denouncing their colleagues who rushed to support Gérard Depardieu, to the point of “excuse him for his intolerable behavior”. “All this will not be in our name”, can we read in the tribune. “We recognize the contribution of these legends to French cinema. But we affirm that no status, no career however brilliant it may be, can place itself above the fray, and thus benefit from a form of impunity. Even less in the name of art”, it is written.
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A forum which adds to a previous one, signed by 8,000 artists
The 150 personalities concerned recall that it “There are only ordinary men who have been given all the rights” by assuring that Gérard Depardieu was supposedly a “sacred beast” untouchable. “We do not attack the art that is dear to us: on the contrary, we want to protect it, firmly refusing to allow it to serve as a pretext for the abuse of powerharassment or sexual violence”, is it also inscribed in the famous text, which obviously has words for the “suffering of the victims” alleged by the actor, “whether famous or anonymous”.
“France that makes us proud does not fight for the right to annoy, she is on the side of the alleged victims. […] It’s important to unite in the face of those who dirty and degrade, and we say here in a clear, strong and powerful voice: we are not one of them. And we don’t want those anymore.” is added. This column is in line with that which was published on the website of Brains not available, last December 29, and which has been signed by more than 8,000 artists, like Angèle, Louane, Yvan Le Bolloc’h, Pomme, Corinne Masiero, Barbara Pravi or Médine, to denounce in particular the words of Emmanuel Macron, having recently supported Gérard Depardieu in front of the whole of France on the set of It’s up to you.
Article written with the collaboration of 6Medias
Photo credits: Laetitia Notarianni/Bestimage