Gérard Depardieu ‘Makes France Proud,’ Country’s President Says Amid Sexual Assault Claims

Gérard Depardieu is receiving support from the President of France as the actor is accused of sexual assault by multiple women.

President Emmanuel Macron spoke about the disgraced performer while on French TV show C à vous.

"I'm a big admirer of Gérard Depardieu," he said, per Variety.

He went on to praise Depardieu as "an immense actor, who has delivered some of the most beautiful texts. He made France known, our greatest authors, our greatest characters, across the world."

"I'll say it as France president but also as a citizen, he makes France proud," he concluded.

Depardieu was first accused of sexual assault in 2018 and again this April. The claims were heightened when actress Hélène Darras detailed her allegations on a recent episode of Complément d’Enquête, an investigative news show that airs in France. (Darras had a walk-on role in 2008's Disco, which starred Depardieu.)

In a promo for the interview, Darras — who was 26 when the alleged incident occurred — said that Depardieu "looked at me as if I were a piece of meat," adding that he "came up to me and then passed his hand over my hips and buttocks."

In her interview, she said she turned down his alleged offer to go to his dressing room, however, "that didn't change anything." She claimed, "He kept groping me between takes." She shared that she didn't speak up out of fear of being "blacklisted."

The Paris Prosecutor's Office is investigating her claims, Variety reported.

In October, he penned an open letter in newspaper Le Figaro and denied the claims.

"I finally want to tell you my truth," Depardieu wrote in French, which has been roughly translated to English. "I have never, ever abused a woman. Hurting a woman would be like kicking my own mother in the stomach."

He added that he can "no longer sing 'Barbara' because a woman who wanted to sing 'Barbara' with me accused me of rape."

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available 24 hours a day through RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.