French actress Léa Seydoux has condemned comments made by President Emmanuel Macron in support of actor Gérard Depardieu, who faces trial for alleged sexual assault. Depardieu, 75, has been charged with assaulting two women on a movie set in 2021, though he denies the allegations.
When the charges against Depardieu first emerged, Macron stated that France is “proud” of the revered actor. More recently, the president has said he will withhold further judgment until after the trial.
In an interview with The Times of London, Seydoux harshly criticized Macron’s initial supportive statement about Depardieu.
“So strange. It was crazy. It gives a very bad image of our country. Why say that? It was really something. It’s crazy he said that — the president. Crazy,” Seydoux stated.
France Seen as Outlier on #MeToo
Macron’s stance aligns with a perception that France lags behind in addressing the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct. Earlier this month, actresses including Juliette Binoche signed a letter claiming France is “enormously backward” on the issue.
However, Seydoux expressed optimism about changing attitudes, especially among younger generations. “The young generation is very active…super-aware. It’s super-strong and not only in cinema,” she told The Times.
Seydoux, who starred alongside Daniel Craig in two James Bond films, also noted the franchise has evolved with society.
“It would’ve been weird to do Bond nowadays with a guy who is super-misogynistic. It has to reflect the society we’re living in,” she said.
Seydoux’s criticism highlights concerns that some leaders in France are not taking allegations of sexual misconduct seriously enough, even as broader progress is made.