Karin Viard “groped” by Gérard Depardieu, she told him what she thought!

Having filmed alongside Gérard Depardieu in the film called Potiche, Karin Viard had revealed in February 2024 on France Inter that she had been “groped” by the sacred monster of French cinema, who is today accused of rapes and sexual assaults by several women.

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IN BRIEF

• In February 2024, Gérard Depardieu was accused of rape and sexual assault by more than twenty women, with five complaints filed.
• Karin Viard revealed that she had been “pelotée” by Gérard Depardieu, emphasizing that she had to defend herself at the time.
• Karin Viard acknowledges having participated in the trivialization of abusive behavior in the cinema, emphasizing the importance of the MeToo movement.

A true living legend of French cinema. Gérard Depardieu is today accused of rape and sexual assault by more than twenty women. The actor is also the target of five complaints for these same charges. Appearing on France Inter in February 2024. Actress Karin Viard had precisely been questioned about sexist and sexual violence in the 7th art world.

“It's a subject that is quite complex. It's a subject that carries within itself a certain ambivalence”, she had first indicated. Karin Viard had then underlined that she had been able to endorse in the past behaviors that she finds today “completely abnormal”. “I can talk about it as a victim. Because I was the victim of totally abusive behavior. And totally inappropriate”, she also added.

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Karin Viard after being “groped” by Gérard Depardieu: “Oh but that's not right!”

“I I got groped by Gérard Depardieu. I told him: 'Oh, but this is not right!' And he stopped immediately. But me, in my psychic organization, I never thought that society had to defend me. I always thought that I had to defend myself in fact”, had subsequently revealed Karin Viard. As a reminder, the two actors had worked together on the filming of the movie Potiche.

During this same interview, Karin Viard notably recalled that the “totally abusive behavior” éwas trivialized when she began her career in cinema. “From those who produce these inappropriate behaviors. There was also a form of normality. I don't want to excuse them. We must nevertheless set this context of the time which makes tolerable a number of things which are not at all”, she had also specified.

“Me, when I arrived. I found it normal that men were paid more than me. That people talked about women in front of me in a completely misogynistic way. I found that normal. I said: 'They're a bit heavy'. That they groped me, that they physically molested me a bit. That they put a hand on my ass…”, had also explained Karin Viard.

The actress admits to having “participated in this ignoble thing”

“I wouldn't want people to believe that the world of cinema condoned these behaviors in full awareness. You were going a little blindly. That's how it was. And I say it, finding it absurd to say it. But it's also true, I'm 58 years. I have to say that I myself participated in this despicable thing. By accepting it and finding it not so shocking after all. It's crazy when you think about it,” the actress had also declared. Before being questioned about the Metoo movement.

“That's what's very ambivalent for me. This feminist movement, which also sometimes carries, from my point of view, something a little excessive, is perfectly necessary. And it's necessary that the shame changes sides. That the victims no longer feel ashamed. But that it's the aggressor. The harasser who feels like a victim. It's very, very, very important”, Karin had finally concluded Viard.