The trial of Gérard Depardieu for sexual assault opened on October 28, 2024 before the Paris Criminal Court, before being postponed to March 24 and 25, 2025. His friend Michel Denisot spoke about the affair, this November 7, 2024, at the microphone of Pascal Praud.
Guest on Europe 1, the former host of “Grand Journal” said about the actor's legal setbacks: “when you've known someone for 50 years and their head is underwater, you don't press it, it's not worth it”.
Michel Denisot does not deny Gérard Depardieu
And added: “I talk to him from time to time, and he's going through a difficult time, his head is underwater.”. Michel Denisot did not turn his back on the man who was his first guest, for the launch of Canal+, in 1984, but also for the first issue of his talk show, in 2004.
What links the two men, who are almost the same age, Michel Denisot is 79 years old, Gérard Depardieu is 74 years old, is that they are both from Châteauroux. In an interview given to JDD, in 2014, on the sidelines of the filming of their documentary “Secret conversation“, they had talked about their friendship story.
Michel Denisot then confided to Gérard Depardieu: “It's true that I have a lot of affection for you. We saw each other in dotted lines for a long time, without ever losing each other, a friendly relationship that has strengthened over time“. And to add: “We are quite different but we share a childhood in Châteauroux, the fact of being self-taught and passionate about wine, since we are also winegrowers”.
The Canal+ star then added: “Châteauroux was the asshole of France, 50,000 inhabitants“. Gérard Depardieu had his little reputation there, he also explains. Michel Denisot had in fact remembered: “You reigned over Avenue Victor-Hugo, the city's main artery. As soon as we set foot outside, we ran into you. At 12 years old, you were as big and burly as you are today. I remember your look, you had this way of staring which could be affectionate or frightening”.
His lucky charm
For his part, Gérard Depardieu returned it, always faithful to the post. In this same interview, Michel Denisot reported: “Gérard, you have been a lucky charm in my career. My first interview for Paris Match was thanks to you. Same at TF1 when I went to the filming of Barocco in Amsterdam.
He also remembered how he had inaugurated all of its broadcasts and participated in the launch of Canal+. And Gérard Depardieu says: “I came from Trouville in a Porsche. I had pushed the button to be there at 8 a.m. I remember: the highway was deserted and I made the trip in 55 minutes!”
