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J Bryant
J Bryant
1 year ago

The article begins with this statement: “Gérard Depardieu was accused last Tuesday by 13 women, most of them young actresses, of sexually aggressive acts ranging from inappropriate banter to quasi-r*pe.” I rolled my eyes and thought this was yet another instance of some women trying to claim sexual harassment based on the male gaze or a slightly off-color joke.
Then I read, “Depardieu gets into their personal space, talks dirty (“How many d*cks have you had in that pretty mouth?”, “I want to lick your p*ss*”, and more) … sometimes shoving a hand into their kn*ck*rs.” (I’m editing words I think the Unherd moderation software will object to).
In my opinion, Depardieu’s behavior, if the accusations are true, goes well beyond, for example, “banter” and is unacceptable. Maybe it’s time France developed fresh acting talent and allowed the 74-year-old to retire gracefully, or as gracefully as he can manage.

Clare Knight
Clare Knight
1 year ago
Reply to  J Bryant

It sounds like he’s had a good run for his money and should be held accountable, not allowed to retire gracefully.

Clare Knight
Clare Knight
1 year ago
Reply to  J Bryant

It sounds like he’s had a good run for his money and should be held accountable, not allowed to retire gracefully.

J Bryant
J Bryant
1 year ago

The article begins with this statement: “Gérard Depardieu was accused last Tuesday by 13 women, most of them young actresses, of sexually aggressive acts ranging from inappropriate banter to quasi-r*pe.” I rolled my eyes and thought this was yet another instance of some women trying to claim sexual harassment based on the male gaze or a slightly off-color joke.
Then I read, “Depardieu gets into their personal space, talks dirty (“How many d*cks have you had in that pretty mouth?”, “I want to lick your p*ss*”, and more) … sometimes shoving a hand into their kn*ck*rs.” (I’m editing words I think the Unherd moderation software will object to).
In my opinion, Depardieu’s behavior, if the accusations are true, goes well beyond, for example, “banter” and is unacceptable. Maybe it’s time France developed fresh acting talent and allowed the 74-year-old to retire gracefully, or as gracefully as he can manage.

Christopher Barclay
Christopher Barclay
1 year ago

‘ “I didn’t want to lose the job, then be blacklisted in the business forever,” one (actress) says. ‘ And then expects co-workers to speak out on her behalf.
If there is blacklisting, the problem goes further than Depardieu.

Christopher Barclay
Christopher Barclay
1 year ago

‘ “I didn’t want to lose the job, then be blacklisted in the business forever,” one (actress) says. ‘ And then expects co-workers to speak out on her behalf.
If there is blacklisting, the problem goes further than Depardieu.

Steve Murray
Steve Murray
1 year ago

If this is the first article by Anne-Elisabeth Moutet for Unherd, it’s a great start. I’ve watched her interviews on Newsnight and she invariably comes across with a native intelligence and ability to speak directly to the core of the issue at hand.

The reaction in France to #MeToo was at best equivocal, with several prominent French actresses displaying some disdain for those caught up in the US system whereby career advancement often depended on sexual favours.

The author is immersed in her native culture but is able to provide a perfectly balanced perspective on cultural iconography, in the form of those who’ve attained the status of ‘national treasure’. How France reacts to these charges looks like a pivotal moment, and i look forward to further articles by the author, commenting on how this develops, not to mention other salient aspects of the ‘culture wars’.

Last edited 1 year ago by Steve Murray
J Bryant
J Bryant
1 year ago
Reply to  Steve Murray

It’s certainly not her first Unherd article. Click on her picture at the top of the article and you’ll see all her other Unherd pieces.

Steve Murray
Steve Murray
1 year ago
Reply to  J Bryant

Ah, thanks for that.

Steve Murray
Steve Murray
1 year ago
Reply to  J Bryant

Ah, thanks for that.

J Bryant
J Bryant
1 year ago
Reply to  Steve Murray

It’s certainly not her first Unherd article. Click on her picture at the top of the article and you’ll see all her other Unherd pieces.

Steve Murray
Steve Murray
1 year ago

If this is the first article by Anne-Elisabeth Moutet for Unherd, it’s a great start. I’ve watched her interviews on Newsnight and she invariably comes across with a native intelligence and ability to speak directly to the core of the issue at hand.

The reaction in France to #MeToo was at best equivocal, with several prominent French actresses displaying some disdain for those caught up in the US system whereby career advancement often depended on sexual favours.

The author is immersed in her native culture but is able to provide a perfectly balanced perspective on cultural iconography, in the form of those who’ve attained the status of ‘national treasure’. How France reacts to these charges looks like a pivotal moment, and i look forward to further articles by the author, commenting on how this develops, not to mention other salient aspects of the ‘culture wars’.

Last edited 1 year ago by Steve Murray
Andrew D
Andrew D
1 year ago

Whatever he is, he isn’t a gentleman

Charles Stanhope
Charles Stanhope
1 year ago
Reply to  Andrew D

Very few Frenchman are, but there are some very notable exceptions, as one might expect.

Clueless mgsm1uk
Clueless mgsm1uk
1 year ago

What a cliche? I live in a small French village and most, not a few, of my French male neighbours, friends and acquaintances are polite and courteous.

Warren Trees
Warren Trees
1 year ago

Mais c’est Charles.

Warren Trees
Warren Trees
1 year ago

Mais c’est Charles.

Clueless mgsm1uk
Clueless mgsm1uk
1 year ago

What a cliche? I live in a small French village and most, not a few, of my French male neighbours, friends and acquaintances are polite and courteous.

Charles Stanhope
Charles Stanhope
1 year ago
Reply to  Andrew D

Very few Frenchman are, but there are some very notable exceptions, as one might expect.

Andrew D
Andrew D
1 year ago

Whatever he is, he isn’t a gentleman

N Satori
N Satori
1 year ago

I know the thinking classes are partial to a bit of irony so try this:
In one of Depardieu’s forgotten movies, La Dernière Femme (The Last Woman) released 1976, his character actually castrates himself because he can’t cope with the rise of feminism.

Charles Stanhope
Charles Stanhope
1 year ago
Reply to  N Satori

Rather like the ‘Galli’ or Priests of Cybele were wont to do in times long past.

Of course one of the very few benefits of Christianity was that this practice was banned, but sadly only to be replaced by sodomising little boys “until they split”, to lapse into the vernacular.

Last edited 1 year ago by Charles Stanhope
Clare Knight
Clare Knight
1 year ago
Reply to  N Satori

Ironic indeed.

Charles Stanhope
Charles Stanhope
1 year ago
Reply to  N Satori

Rather like the ‘Galli’ or Priests of Cybele were wont to do in times long past.

Of course one of the very few benefits of Christianity was that this practice was banned, but sadly only to be replaced by sodomising little boys “until they split”, to lapse into the vernacular.

Last edited 1 year ago by Charles Stanhope
Clare Knight
Clare Knight
1 year ago
Reply to  N Satori

Ironic indeed.

N Satori
N Satori
1 year ago

I know the thinking classes are partial to a bit of irony so try this:
In one of Depardieu’s forgotten movies, La Dernière Femme (The Last Woman) released 1976, his character actually castrates himself because he can’t cope with the rise of feminism.

El Uro
El Uro
1 year ago

She (Charlotte Arnould) was “raped” twice because visited him twice in August 2018.
I think she was not completely satisfied with the first “rape”

El Uro
El Uro
1 year ago

She (Charlotte Arnould) was “raped” twice because visited him twice in August 2018.
I think she was not completely satisfied with the first “rape”

Warren Trees
Warren Trees
1 year ago

“…practically illiterate until his teens.” Spending time in jail at 16. Then made into a highly exalted national star. Repeated unreported offenses. Is it any wonder he turned into a monster?

Last edited 1 year ago by Warren Trees
Leon Sun Khan
Leon Sun Khan
1 year ago

As long as self-admitted paedophiles like Gabriel Matzneff and other public figures belonging to Frances warped ‘sexual aristocracy’ of the 70s-90s are held accountable for their crimes, I haven’t much faith in Obelix being made to pay for his grotesque ‘banter’.

Leon Sun Khan
Leon Sun Khan
1 year ago

As long as self-admitted paedophiles like Gabriel Matzneff and other public figures belonging to Frances warped ‘sexual aristocracy’ of the 70s-90s are held accountable for their crimes, I haven’t much faith in Obelix being made to pay for his grotesque ‘banter’.

Lesley van Reenen
Lesley van Reenen
1 year ago

Was Harvey Weinstein beloved?

Clive MacDonald
Clive MacDonald
1 year ago

It confused me, but it seems that the comparison with Weinstein refers to the alleged (in Depardieu’s case) acts, not any sort of national treasure status. Difficult to imagine Weinstein as a national treasure.

Clive MacDonald
Clive MacDonald
1 year ago

It confused me, but it seems that the comparison with Weinstein refers to the alleged (in Depardieu’s case) acts, not any sort of national treasure status. Difficult to imagine Weinstein as a national treasure.

Lesley van Reenen
Lesley van Reenen
1 year ago

Was Harvey Weinstein beloved?