He was a signatory of the platform in support of Gérard Depardieu. A “Politis” investigation published this Wednesday, November 27 reports accusations of sexist and sexual violence targeting Gérard Darmon, French film actor. Nine women, film technicians, denounce behavior that they describe as “displaced“, ranging from non-consensual gestures to “humiliations“verbals, “sexist insults” and explicit sexual propositions.
A “permanent feeling of insecurity”
These testimonies span the filming of six films, between 2018 and last summer, and reveal a “permanent feeling of insecurity“. The victims, often young and occupying precarious positions – dressers, make-up artists, director or production assistants – describe a relationship of domination exercised by the 76-year-old actor. Delphine*, 19-year-old intern during the filming of ” You are young, you are beautiful” in 2018, reports explicit advances and describes a man “very honeyed, pressing his kisses to the corner of the mouth“. “We can make love, you can come to my house“, he allegedly said to her. Rejecting his advances, she was then denigrated and insulted: “He said to me: 'hello female dog, do you prefer that I call you female dog or little slut?'”, she testifies, explaining that she left the shoot in a state of burn-out. According to “Politis”, this young woman ended up filing a complaint against the production for non-protection.
During this same shoot, the first assistant director reported a scathing remark from Gérard Darmon. “It’s okay, you’re not going to give me a MeToo!“, he would have told her after having, according to him, “put his hand between [ses] thighs in [lui] saying hello” while she was sitting with her legs crossed. She claims to have pushed him away from this gesture. In response, the actor, according to her, adopted a hostile attitude by “pissing him off for two weeks“.
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Another technician remembers a “joke“sexual that Gérard Darmon would have made in his presence:”He turns around, chocolate in his mouth, with very clear intentions“The stories paint the portrait of an actor confident in his power, capable of maintaining a climate of intimidation. A technician mentions a remark from the actor about his North African origin, followed by an intrusive gesture.”He took me in his arms and stroked my back. I didn't know what to do, I was embarrassed“, she says. Subsequently, she recalls numerous invitations to dinner in a beach restaurant. Until one day, on the set, the actor allegedly gave her “caught the face“, pour “almost stick to [ses] lips and say: 'Ah, that mouth, how I would like to kiss it!'“.
A systemic problem
The productions concerned are also singled out for their inaction. Delphine says: “Production didn't protect me […] and favored the actor.“If certain teams have implemented measures, such as limiting interactions with Gérard Darmon, none would have directly confronted the actor. Another technician says that she was explicitly recommended never to be alone with the actor. actor Contacted by “Politis”, Gérard Darmon denies the accusations, while adopting a provocative tone Regarding the insults reported by Delphine, he quips: “Did I say 'female dog', simply, or 'female dog, go get fucked by a dog'?“. He did not respond to specific questions sent by the media.
These accusations are a reminder of the persistent flaws in the film industry in the face of sexist and sexual violence, despite the #MeToo movement. Flaws denounced by the actress and filmmaker Judith Godrèche, who filed a complaint for rape of a minor against the directors Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon. At his request, a commission of inquiry into sexist and sexual violence in cinema, theater, fashion and the audiovisual sector was created in May and relaunched in October after the early legislative elections. “We technicians are interchangeable. The actors have all the power“, summarizes Sarah*. Ten other women who testified to “Politis” ultimately chose not to appear in the newspaper's investigation. Another source wonders: “Gérard Darmon is bankable, he benefits from immense sympathy among the public. And us?“.
*First names followed by an asterisk have been modified by “Politis”.
