Depardieu explains plane pee: ‘I am an elephant’

FRENCH actor Gerard Depardieu has spoken out about the embarrassing mishap on a plane last month when he relieved himself into a plastic bottle and spilled urine onto the floor, saying "the bottle was too small" and that he is "an elephant".

The plane had to return to the terminal for cleaning after the incident in Paris in August, and Depardieu was escorted off the plane. At the time a witness claimed the actor was drunk.

Now, AFP reports, the actor has told CNN's Anderson Cooper his side of the story. He says he tried to use the toilet, but a flight attendant, sticking to the rules that say toilets must be empty until after take off, blocked the door with her foot and ordered him to return to his seat.

"Madam, I have a lot of pee. I have to go pee. It's hurting me," Depardieu told the flight attendant. "I'm not a terrorist, I just want to pee."

A friend then offered Depardieu a plastic bottle, which the actor used. "It was so beautiful, you know. I'm not a monster. I'm just a man who wants to pee... I don't understand why she blocked the door."

Unfortunately, the bottle was inadequate, and the urine overflowed. Depardieu attempted to calm the air hostess.

He continued: "The bottle was too small, you know. I am an elephant... I said: 'Don't worry, I will clean it up.'"

Although Depardieu clearly sees the funny side of the incident, he maintains he was not drunk on the plane. Asked if “any wine was involved", the actor said no. ·