Famous French actor Gerard Depardieu, who received Russian citizenship in 2013, was detained in Paris on charges of sexual violence. He was taken into custody early Monday morning.

Depardieu is accused by two women of incidents that occurred on film sets in 2014 and 2021. Accusations of sexual harassment against Depardieu were also made in 2007. The actor categorically denies the accusations and tries to challenge them.

In 2023, the situation around Gerard Depardieu has already caused significant public outcry. French President Emmanuel Macron defended the presumption of innocence, while Culture Minister Rima Abdul-Malak proposed stripping the actor of the country's highest award. In response to this, Depardieu personally refused the Legion of Honor. At the same time, about 50 of the actor's colleagues expressed their support by writing an open letter. Among the signatories are famous personalities such as Pierre Richard and Carla Bruni, who also emphasized the importance of respecting the principle of the presumption of innocence.

In December 2023, a wax figure of the artist was removed from the Grevin Museum in Paris.

For a long time, Depardieu was called a “national icon.” It seems the public has changed its mind.