Gérard Depardieu has withdrawn his appeal against his conviction for sexual assault, making the 18-month suspended prison sentence imposed in May 2025 final. The immediate development is procedural: the appeal hearing that had been due to begin will no longer take place.
Der Spiegel reports that the conviction concerned assaults on two women during a 2021 film production. The women accused the actor of touching them against their will. During the trial, Depardieu denied the sexual-assault accusations, while acknowledging that he had used vulgar language.
Withdrawing the appeal ends the challenge to this judgment on the information available. The report does not state why he withdrew it. That limit matters. The significance of the decision is the finality of this particular conviction, not a basis for treating every separate allegation involving Depardieu as settled by the same court case.
Der Spiegel also reports that investigative outlet Mediapart released footage from a 2011 film set on Thursday, and that Depardieu’s lawyers initially did not comment. The supplied reporting does not establish that the footage was part of the case now concluded, or that it influenced the withdrawal of the appeal.
Other proceedings remain separate. Der Spiegel says prosecutors have sought a trial in the case of actor Charlotte Arnould, who has accused Depardieu of rape, and that he appealed that move. A decision on whether that case goes to trial is due on 26 November, according to the report. The final judgment over the 2021 allegations does not decide that case or other accusations.
Sources
- Der Spiegel · Source date: 2026-11-13
Independent editorial content. WUA is not affiliated with any political party. 2026-11-13