Macron Stirs Fury by Praising Gérard Depardieu, French Actor Accused of Rape

PARIS—France is losing its patience with renowned artists and intellectuals whose work has long given them a free pass against sexual-misconduct allegations.

So it came as a shock to many this week when President Emmanuel Macron strongly praised the actor Gérard Depardieu, once the face of French cinema, who has been accused of sexual assault and rape by a number of women. Macron rejected the suggestion by his own culture minister that Depardieu should lose the Legion of Honor, one of France’s highest awards, arguing it is merited for great artists who might be bad people.