An open letter signed by French actor Catherine Deneuve and around 100 women writers, performers and academics has sparked an angry debate about sexual harassment and the "MeToo" campaign.

The letter, published in Le Monde newspaper, has warned that a new puritanism was taking over in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, forcing other men out of jobs for making passes at women.

France's Minister for gender equality Marlene Schiappa has labelled the letter "dangerous."