Macron Under Fire for Calling Accused Depardieu a 'Pride of France'

French President Emmanuel Macron has come under fire for defending actor Gérard Depardieu, who is accused of sexual assault. Macron identified himself as a "big fan of the great actor." "He is a pride of France," said the French president.

Macron's comments came during a televised interview following a documentary aired earlier this month in which 16 women accused Depardieu of sexual misconduct. When asked about the allegations against Depardieu, Macron stated that he believes in the presumption of innocence and the legal process.

Macron also criticized the Culture Minister’s decision to initiate disciplinary procedures regarding the awarding of the Legion of Honor to Depardieu, which could lead to the withdrawal of the award. He remarked that Culture Minister Rima Abdul-Malak has "gone too far." The Legion of Honor is "not a moral tool," and one cannot revoke an award based on a documentary, said Macron.

Additionally, aside from the documentary, Spanish journalist and writer Ruth Bazan recently filed a complaint against Depardieu, alleging that he sexually assaulted her during an interview in Paris in 1995. Bazan, 51, told the Associated Press that when she was 23, she interviewed the actor for Cinemanía magazine. She claimed that at the end of the interview, the actor began kissing her face and neck and touched her between the legs, behavior that she said the police classified as rape.

Bazan decided to "bury" the incident but later wrote about it in detail in her diary. She now says the episode resurfaced when she read about the accusations from 13 women against Depardieu. She indicated that since then, she has been living a "real nightmare" and has decided to speak out.

Seventy-four-year-old Depardieu is also under investigation for rape by actress Charlotte Arnault, who claims the crimes occurred at Depardieu's home.