Credits: 9EkieraM1 / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 3.0.
Support for Gérard Depardieu, expressed in an opinion piece in Le Figaro at Christmas, has taken an unexpected turn. Several signatories have expressed remorse, even retracting, in the face of the growing controversy.
The opinion piece, signed by 56 public figures, initially sparked a wave of support for the actor, downplaying consideration for victims of sexual assault. Among the signatories were Carole Bouquet, Yvan Attal, Nathalie Baye, and others. Their motivations varied, but the revelation that the text came from Yannis Ezziadi, considered close to the far right, was a turning point.
Jean-Claude Dreyfus and Patrice Leconte were among the first to publicly distance themselves. Dreyfus announced his decision on Facebook, while Leconte expressed his regrets on LCI, admitting he had not been sufficiently informed.
Jacques Weber also withdrew his signature, citing a lack of consideration for victims of sexual violence. Nadine Trintignant likewise distanced herself, apologizing for her "serious mistake."
Other figures, like Carole Bouquet and José Dayan, expressed discomfort without fully retracting. Bouquet said on Instagram she regretted giving visibility to a journalist with controversial views, and Dayan lamented his association with the initiator of the piece.
Thus, reactions vary, ranging from full retraction to mere discomfort. Some, like Yvan Attal and Gérard Darmon, tried to justify their signature, citing personal reasons or partial disagreement with the piece.