Actor Depardieu says hand on the buttocks is not sexual assault, tells court he did not touch plaintiff

French actor Gerard Depardieu looks on at the courthouse, as his trial over accusation of sexual assault of two women, which prosecutors say took place during the filming in 2021 of "Les Volets Verts", continues in Paris, France, March 26, 2025. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq

PARIS (Reuters) - Actor Gerard Depardieu, on the third day of a sexual assault trial, told a Paris court on Wednesday that he did not consider placing a hand on a person's buttocks sexual assault and that some women were too easily shocked, but denied assault.

A towering figure of French cinema, Depardieu, 76, has faced a growing number of sexual assault allegations in recent years, which has put a spotlight on how women are treated in the movie industry.