Depardieu has ‘oui’ problem on Dublin-bound flight
French actor Gerard Depardieu has been removed from a flight bound for Dublin.
The 62-year-old, star of Cyrano de Bergerac and Green Card, was on a flight from Paris when he urinated in front of fellow passengers.
The plane was still on the ground but was preparing for take-off when Mr Depardieu asked to use the lavatory.
When staff told him to stay in his seat, it is understood he stood in the aisle of the plane and urinated into a bottle.
A passenger on the CityJet plane contacted a French radio station on Wednesday and claimed the movie star had also urinated on the aisle.
The traveller claimed Mr Depardieu stood up minutes before take-off and declared in a loud voice: “Je veux pisser. Je veux pisser.”
Following the incident, he said it was not alcohol related and was so desperate to use the facilities as he had drunk a litre bottle of water before boarding.
DelayThe star offered to clean up any mess, but the aircraft taxied back to the terminal at Charles de Gaulle airport and Mr Depardieu was removed from the flight.
He was flying to Ireland with Cityjet to film Asterix and Obelix: God Save Britannia.
Cityjet confirmed the plane had been delayed and it took off later than scheduled.
In a statement the airline, a subsidiary of Air France, said: “Flight AF5010, which was due to depart at 1845 from Paris to Dublin, was delayed due to an incident on board involving a passenger who refused to remain in his seat as the aircraft was taxiing on the runway.
“The captain returned the aircraft to stand where the passenger was offloaded.”
Mr Depardieu’s agent said he did not want to comment publicly on the incident.
He had been expected in Ireland to join more than 300 cast and crew for filming on the 50m euros film at several locations including the Burren, County Clare, Listoke Gardens in County Louth and in Wicklow.
Filming on part four of the Gaul’s exploits began on Tuesday and is due to continue for the next four weeks.