French cinema icon Gérard Depardieu is once again under legal scrutiny—this time for allegedly falsifying his residence in Belgium since 2012 to avoid paying high taxes in France.
According to reports from DPA, authorities from both France and Belgium raided Depardieu’s properties on February 11, 2025, as part of an ongoing financial investigation. The actor moved his official residency to the Belgian town of Néchin, near the French border, nearly 13 years ago, after France introduced a controversial wealth tax. The local municipality even granted him honorary citizenship at the time.
Depardieu’s lawyer dismissed the investigation as a desperate move by tax authorities, stating:
“They have been trying to prove fraud for nine years. Since they failed, they are now resorting to criminal charges. Some may call these methods absurd, but they are legal and common.”
More Legal Troubles Await
This is not the only legal battle the 75-year-old actor is facing. In March 2025, he is set to appear in court over sexual harassment allegations. Two women have accused him of inappropriate touching during a 2021 film production, claims that Depardieu vehemently denies.
As legal pressures mount, one question remains: Will the legendary actor be able to clear his name, or is his career headed for a dramatic downfall?
