Macron claims that after new accusations, French actor Depardieu was the target of a “manhunt.”

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday that legendary actor Gerard Depardieu, who is facing new allegations of rape, is the subject of a “manhunt” due to remarks he made that are sexist.

When questioned about potentially depriving the actor of a state honor, Macron responded, “You will never see me participate in a manhunt,” to the France 5 broadcaster.

Macron claims that after new accusations, French actor Depardieu was the target of a “manhunt.”

He continued, “I detest that kind of thing.”

Depardieu’s 1996 French Legion of Honour award “is not a moral tool”, according to Macron.

The actor’s actions embarrassed France, according to French Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak, who also threatened to deprive him of the Legion, the nation’s highest honor.

With almost 200 films to his credit, Depardieu is a French cinema star. He was accused of rape in 2020, and over a dozen women have accused him of sexual harassment and assault.

The claims have been resurrected, and the discussion surrounding sexism in French cinema has been sparked by a television report that aired last month and featured footage of him making sexist remarks.

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During a 2018 trip to North Korea, the actor was shown on broadcaster France 2 repeatedly making explicit sexual remarks in front of a female interpreter and sexualizing a young girl riding a horse.

After the program aired, Depardieu’s family claimed there was a “unprecedented conspiracy” against him, but he dismissed all of the claims made against him in October.

A Belgian town deprives Depardieu of his honorary citizenship over the weekend, following the Canadian province of Quebec’s revocation of its highest distinction due to his “scandalous” remarks directed against women.

Following many allegations of sexual harassment and rape, Macron removed Harvey Weinstein’s Legion of Honour in 2017.