French-language Swiss television will no longer show Depardieu films for the time being

The French-language Swiss television RTS no longer broadcasts films starring French actor Gérard Depardieu. The background is offensive comments and complaints from women about sexual violence against the 75-year-old superstar.

An RTS spokesperson confirmed corresponding information from the newspaper “Le Matin Dimanche” to the Keystone-SDA news agency on Sunday. It is a “pragmatic decision” that will be reviewed depending on how the situation develops.

A work will be selectively removed from the program if “we feel that the majority of the audience could be offended by a work or a personality,” the spokesperson continued. This can also happen if the judiciary has not yet made a ruling. It is the job of a public broadcaster to keep track of the mood of the public.

For years, women have repeatedly come forward to accuse Depardieu of sexual assault. In 2018, actress Charlotte Arnould sued him for rape. This case has been under investigation since 2020. Since mid-September, a lawsuit against him for sexual abuse has been ongoing. The incident is said to have occurred in 2007. The award-winning actor, who has appeared in more than 200 films, completely denies the allegations.

Depardieu’s image was recently further damaged by the broadcast of a documentary containing misogynistic statements. In the TV magazine Complément d’onderzoek about a trip to North Korea, which was broadcast in early December, Depardieu shocked people with misogynistic and demeaning comments.

“Women like to ride horses because their clitoris rubs against the saddle,” he said on camera. He is shown visiting a stud farm. Then again obscenities that put his North Korean interpreter in distress. “I weigh 124 kilos – 126 with an erection.”

The insulting comments caused international irritation. French Culture Minister Rima Abdul-Malak called the comments “disgusting.” His behavior is a “disgrace to France”.

RTS had made similar decisions in the past, for example with the French comedian Pierre Palmade. In February, he caused an accident that seriously injured three people while driving under the influence of cocaine. (sda)