French actor Gérard Depardieu is scheduled to stand trial in Rome on June 17, 2025, facing charges of personal injury following an alleged altercation with renowned Italian photographer Rino Barillari. The incident reportedly occurred in May 2024 outside Harry’s Bar on Via Veneto, a location synonymous with Rome’s “La Dolce Vita” era.
According to Barillari, 80, often referred to as “the king of paparazzi,” he was photographing Depardieu dining with a companion, Magda Vavrusova, when the actor became agitated. Barillari claims that Depardieu approached him, punched him three times, threw an ice cube, and made an obscene gesture accompanied by an anti-Italian insult. Barillari sustained facial injuries requiring hospital treatment.
Depardieu has denied the allegations, stating that Barillari had pushed him, leading to an accidental fall onto the photographer. Vavrusova’s lawyer also contends that Barillari had “violently pushed” her, causing Depardieu to lose balance.
This upcoming trial in Rome follows Depardieu’s recent conviction in Paris for sexually assaulting two women during a 2021 film shoot. On May 13, 2025, a Paris court handed the 76-year-old actor an 18-month suspended prison sentence and placed him on the national sex offender registry. The court also ordered him to pay damages to the victims.
Depardieu’s legal troubles have garnered significant attention, highlighting issues of accountability and conduct within the entertainment industry. The Rome trial adds another chapter to the actor’s ongoing legal battles.
