Actor Gerard Depardieu announced that he would hand over his Legion of Honor to French Culture Minister Rima Abdul-Malak after reports he engaged in offensive communication with women. The statement appeared in reports citing AFP, relayed through TASS, signaling a dramatic move amid ongoing controversy surrounding the actor’s conduct.
The artist’s lawyers, Beatrice Geismann Achille and Christian Saint-Palais, explained that this step followed Abdul-Malak’s note that the Council of the Order had opened a disciplinary inquiry into allegations of obscene remarks and harassment toward women. The lawyers stressed that the move was intended as a response to the minister’s disclosure about the investigation, which intensified public scrutiny of Depardieu and his public actions.
Human rights advocates condemned both the actor and the Minister of Culture, arguing that the remarks could undermine the presumption of innocence that should accompany any such inquiry. According to the lawyers, Depardieu faces widespread harassment from critics demanding accountability, while supporters say Abdul-Malak should pause or review the proceedings with care to avoid echoing broader social pressures against due process.
Earlier, the French Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul-Malak, indicated that the actor could be deprived of France’s highest honor. Depardieu had received the Legion of Honor in 1996 from former French President Jacques Chirac, a ceremony seen at the time as a formal recognition of his contributions to the arts and cinema in France.
On December 14, Depardieu was reported to have been deprived of the Order of Quebec for derogatory remarks toward women, a move that has fueled ongoing debate about the accountability of public figures and the appropriate responses from national honors councils in the face of conduct allegations.
Earlier in 2023, Pedro Pascal, the star of The Mandalorian, was celebrated as the top star, adding to a year marked by high-profile performances and shifting conversations about celebrity voices and influence in the arts and entertainment sphere.