Actor Gérard Depardieu stripped of Order of Quebec after sexual comments against women
Posted December 13, 2023 2:57 pm.
Premier François Legault removed French actor Gérard Depardieu from the National Order of Quebec Wednesday.
The Quebec government said recent comments made by the actor demonstrate behavior going against the values of the Order of Quebec.
A recent documentary showed Depardieu repeatedly making obscene remarks and gestures during a 2018 trip to North Korea.
The footage, filmed by a professional crew that covered Depardieu’s visit during the 70th anniversary of North Korea’s formation, was included in an investigative documentary that aired last week in France. It had never been shown before to the public. Some excerpts quickly went viral on the social media.
Depardieu, 74, was put under investigation in December 2020 for rape and sexual assault, reportedly at his Paris home, following allegations from actor Charlotte Arnould in 2018. The investigation is ongoing.
Depardieu, among France’s most well-known stars, has denied any criminal conduct.
In the video recorded in North Korea by an unnamed video production company, Depardieu can be seen making groaning sounds and sexual comments in front of women, including about a 10-year-old girl. He can also be seen posing for a photo while saying he was “touching the bottom” of a North Korean interpreter by his side.
In Quebec, the council for the Order made the recommendation to Premier Legault to remove Depardieu. The decision is effective immediately.
