Paris AP —French actor Gérard Depardieu, who is facing trial for alleged sexual assaults on two women on a film set in 2021, won’t appear before a criminal court in Paris on Monday due to health reasons, his lawyer said. The trial was scheduled as France continues to reckon with sexual violence in the wake of the #MeToo movement that initially struggled to find traction, especially in the cinema industry. About 100 people gathered outside the court on Monday, some holding signs, responding to a call from several feminist groups to show support for victims of sexual violence. The month before the incident, another woman working on the film set had complained about Depardieu, prosecutors said. He has been a global ambassador for French film and enjoyed international fame with several roles in Hollywood.

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