In the space of 48 hours, some 8,000 artists have signed a counter-petition (contre-tribune) in response to support for the disgraced actor Gérard Depardieu, Le Soir reports.
Depardieu has been heavily criticised following the recent release of shocking footage in which he makes a series of misogynistic and insulting remarks about women. The French actor has also been accused of various counts of rape and sexual abuse.
"Thank you to all the artists, famous and unknown," wrote the 'Cerveaux non disponibles' collective on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, which closed the collection of signatures.
Among the 8,000 signatories were singers Angèle and Louane and rapper Médine.
'Erasing the artist'
The text comes in response to an open letter published in French newspaper Le Figaro on 25 December by Depardieu's supporters. Over 50 actors, directors, singers and writers plead for the presumption of innocence and urged against a boycott of Depardieu's work, calling for the former French film icon "not to be erased".
The counter-petition also follows comments made by President Emmanuel Macron, who on 20 December denounced a "manhunt" against the 75-year-old actor, stating that he "makes France proud".
The signatories of the contre-tribune, meanwhile, declared that "this petition and Macron's defence are not only spitting in the face of Gérard Depardieu's victims, but also of all victims of sexist and sexual violence."
"As always in cases of gender-based and sexual violence against women, the 'presumption of innocence' for the aggressor sounds like a 'presumption of lying' for the women who testify against him."
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Another critical petition, entitled 'Address to the old world', was published on Sunday on the Médiapart website with some 70 signatures from film personalities including Laure Calamy and Anouk Grinberg.
"Nobody wants to erase the artist. But Gérard Depardieu's talent does not authorise the indignity of his behaviour," it noted.
Gérard Depardieu fell from his pedestal following the broadcast of images in early December in which he made a number of misogynistic comments. Additionally, he is the subject of three complaints of sexual assault and rape – all of which he denies.
