Depardieu has to stand trial again

The 76-year-old is alleged to have beaten a photographer who wanted to take a picture of him with a female companion in a celebrity hangout in Rome. The actor ("The Last Metro", "Asterix and Obelix") denies the accusations.

The background is a dispute in "Harry's Bar" in May last year. Photographer Rino Barillari - one of Italy's best-known paparazzi - claims that Depardieu threw a bucket full of ice cubes at him and then hit him several times in the face. Injuries were later seen on the 80-year-old's left temple. Barillari had already made a name for himself decades ago with photos of celebrities during the Dolce Vita era.

Photographer demands apology

Depardieu's companion claims that the photographer touched her and was "very violent". Barillari told the newspaper "Corriere della Sera" (Tuesday): "I don't hit anyone. Especially not the person I'm supposed to be photographing."

He was sorry about the whole incident, but he at least wanted an official apology. Depardieu's lawyer announced to dpa that he would be filing a lawsuit on behalf of the woman on Tuesday.

According to both sides, neither the actor nor the photographer will be present at the meeting this afternoon. Depardieu was sentenced to 18 months probation in Paris in mid-May. The case concerned sexual harassment during the filming of a 2021 movie. The court found Depardieu guilty of indecently touching a set designer and an assistant director.