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French museum removes wax figure of Gerard Depardieu

Gerard Depardieu pictured at a film premiere in Berlin earlier this year
Gerard Depardieu pictured at a film premiere in Berlin earlier this year

A wax statue of actor Gerard Depardieu has been removed from display at a museum in France, its management said, in the latest such measure taken against the 74-year-old who is accused of sexual assault.

The Grevin Museum in Paris said it took away the figure "following the negative reactions of visitors" passing in front of it, as well as comments "on social media".

The life-size representation of Depardieu had been on display there since 1981.

The actor, an icon of French cinema with more than 200 titles to his name, was charged with rape in 2020 and has been accused of sexual harassment and assault by more than a dozen women.

A television report released this month, which included footage of him making sexist comments, has thrown the allegations back in the limelight and reignited a debate about sexism in French cinema.

Depardieu in October rejected all of the accusations against him, and his family has denounced an "unprecedented conspiracy" against him.

A museum employee checking the figure in 2021

Despite no court ruling against the actor, many have rushed to distance themselves from him in recent days.

On Saturday, a Belgian municipality stripped Depardieu of the title of honorary citizen, several days after the Canadian province of Quebec revoked its top honour over his "scandalous" comments against women.

Last week, French Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak said the actor's behaviour shamed France, noting that he might be stripped of the Legion of Honour, the country's top award.

In 2017, French President Emmanuel Macron withdrew the Legion of Honour from Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein after a series of accusations of sexual harassment and rape.

Depardieu was one of around 250 French and international personalities represented at the Grevin Museum.