A 14th assault accuser has come out against legendary actor Gerard Depardieu — the latest one is a Spanish journalist accusing him of rape during a 1985 interview.
Depardieu had previously denied allegations of rape and sexual assault in an open letter published in Le Figaro in October. “Never, ever have I abused a woman,” the actor wrote. “To the media court, to the lynching that has been reserved for me, I have only my word to defend myself.”
And yet, despite a full-on media assault against the actor, French President Emmanuel Macron surprised many last night by defending Depardieu and calling the accusations a “manhunt.”
"I never participate in a manhunt," Macron told the France 5 broadcaster when asked about possibly stripping the actor of a state award — "I hate that kind of thing," he added.
"The presumption of innocence is part of our values,” Macron said, adding he had "huge admiration" for Depardieu, whom he called "an immense actor".
This has led to intense backlash this morning in France. The country’s biggest feminist organization, Generations Feministe, condemned Macron's comments as "an insult" to all women who had suffered sexual violence. A wide range of politicians have also bashed Macron’s comments.
Depardieu has continued to deny any wrongdoing, calling the accusations an "unprecedented conspiracy" against him, stemming from “collective rage.”