Gérard Depardieu, Citing Poor Health, Calls for Postponement of Sexual Assault Trial

The French film star was set to appear in court Monday to face charges from two women who allege he assaulted them on a film set in 2021.

French film starGérard Depardieuwill not attend his trialon charges of sexual assault, starting in Paris this week, and has requested a postponement, citing health concerns.

Depardieu was scheduled to appear in court for the trial, set to kick off in Paris on Monday. Two women have accused theGreen CardandCyrano de Bergeracactor of sexual assault related to alleged events on the set of the filmThe Green Shuttersin 2021.

Depardieu’s lawyer Jérémie Assous said Monday that his client had been advised by his doctors against attending the hearing in person for health reasons. Assous noted that his client is “75 years old and has been a diabetic for 25 years,” adding that he has requested a postponement of the trial.

“Gérard Depardieu is extremely upset, and unfortunately his doctors forbid him from attending the hearing, which is why he will request an adjournment to a later date so that he can be present,” Assous said in an interview with RTL France. He added that Depardieu wanted to “express himself” on the facts of the case. The French actor denies all charges against him.

“I expect justice to be the same for everyone and for Mr. Depardieu not to benefit from preferential treatment because he is an artist,” Carine Durrieu-Diebolt, a lawyer for one of the women in the case, told Agence France-Presse.

TheGreen Shutterscase is the first of multiple sexual allegations against Depardieu to go to trial and the hearing is being watched closely as the highest-profile#MeToo-style trial in France of a major entertainment figure.

French actress Charlotte Arnould hasalso accused Depardieuof two acts of rape dating back to 2018, allegations that are currently working their way through the courts. Last year the French investigative news site Médiapart published detailed allegations from 13 women whoaccused the actor of sexually inappropriate behavior. A TV exposé on the investigative showComplément d’Enquêtehighlighted further incidents stretching back years.

Depardieu has always maintained his innocence andpublished an open letterin the conservativeLe Figaronewspaper saying his behavior had been misinterpreted.