French actor Gérard Depardieu is dropping his appeal of a sexual assault conviction, according to his own lawyer, shortly after investigative outlet Mediapart published newly unearthed video that appears to show him groping a young extra on a film set fifteen years ago.

The footage, reported by Mediapart and relayed by Yahoo Entertainment, was filmed November 2, 2011 at the Auteuil racecourse outside Paris, during production of the 2013 comedy "Turf." It shows Depardieu, now 76, reaching for a woman identified only as Olivia, who was 22 at the time, while she repeatedly tries to push his hands away. Olivia told Mediapart he put his hands on her buttocks "for a long time" and touched her chest as well.

The Director Backs Up Her Account

"Turf" director Fabien Onteniente corroborated much of her story in a separate interview with French outlet Ozap, saying Olivia was in tears when she reported the incident and that he scolded Depardieu on the spot, describing the actor as "sheepish" afterward. Onteniente said he had reprimanded Depardieu multiple times over the years for similar behavior on set, recalling other extras who arrived in tears because of him.

SHE TRIED "BY EVERY MEANS POSSIBLE" TO REMOVE HIS HAND.

Depardieu's lawyers did not respond to Mediapart's requests for comment on the footage itself. But attorney Delphine Meillet confirmed to AFP that Depardieu will withdraw his appeal of last year's sexual assault conviction, stemming from the 2021 set of "Les Volets Verts," where he was found guilty of assaulting two women and handed an 18-month suspended sentence, a fine, and placement on France's sex offender registry. That appeal had been scheduled to be heard November 16-20; withdrawing it makes the original conviction final, reportedly with an added penalty tied to the treatment of the victims by his former defense team.

Depardieu still faces a separate and more serious case: he has been ordered to stand trial for the alleged rape of actress Charlotte Arnould, stemming from an incident at his Paris home in 2018. He denies that charge and has appealed the order sending him to trial, with a ruling on that appeal expected November 26. He has consistently denied all allegations of non-consensual conduct.