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French Icon Brigitte Bardot Dies at 91, Leaving Behind a Divisive Legacy
Paris, France – The world of cinema is mourning the loss of Brigitte Bardot, the legendary French actress who passed away on Sunday at the age of 91 at her home in the south of France. While international media has been awash with iconic images and tributes, French politicians find themselves sharply divided on how to honor a figure whose later life was marked by controversial far-right views and multiple hate speech convictions.
Bardot shot to global fame with the 1956 film “And God Created Woman” and graced the screen in approximately 50 films before famously retiring from cinema in 1973 to dedicate her life to animal rights advocacy. However, her unwavering commitment to animal welfare was increasingly overshadowed by her outspoken political leanings, which led to five convictions for hate speech, primarily targeting Muslims and the inhabitants of the French island of Reunion, whom she controversially described as “savages.”
Her passing on Sunday morning saw her fourth husband, Bernard d’Ormale, a former adviser to the far-right, by her side. “She whispered a word of love to him… and she was gone,” recounted Bruno Jacquelin, a representative for her animal foundation, to BFM television.
French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged her as a “legend” of 20th-century cinema who “embodied a life of freedom,” a sentiment that only scratches the surface of the complex figure Bardot became.
Right-Wing Tributes and Calls for National Homage
Figures from the far-right were quick to express their sorrow. Marine Le Pen, whose National Rally party is currently experiencing a surge in popularity, described Bardot as “incredibly French: free, untameable, whole.” Bardot had publicly endorsed Le Pen in both the 2012 and 2017 presidential elections, even likening her to a modern “Joan of Arc” capable of “saving” France.
Conservative politician Eric Ciotti has gone so far as to suggest a national farewell reminiscent of the one held for French rock icon Johnny Hallyday, launching an online petition that had garnered over 7,000 signatures by Monday.
Left-Wing Politicians Temper Praise, Some Offer Sharp Criticism
In stark contrast, left-wing politicians have largely remained subdued in their comments regarding Bardot’s death. Philippe Brun, a senior Socialist party deputy, acknowledged her as “a towering figure, a symbol of freedom, rebellion, and passion” on Europe 1 radio, expressing sadness at her passing and not opposing a national homage. However, he alluded to her controversial political views, stating, “As for her political commitments, there will be time enough — in the coming days and weeks — to talk about them.”
Fabien Roussel, leader of the Communist party, called Bardot a divisive figure but conceded that “we all agree French cinema created BB and that she made it shine throughout the world,” in a post on X.
Lawmaker Sandrine Rousseau of the left-leaning Greens Party offered a more pointed critique, quipping on BlueSky, “To be moved by the fate of dolphins but remain indifferent to the deaths of migrants in the Mediterranean — what level of cynicism is that?”
Bardot’s Funeral Wishes and Life Story
Bardot herself had expressed a desire for a simple burial in her garden with a wooden cross, similar to her beloved animals, wishing to avoid “a crowd of idiots” at her funeral. Such a burial is permissible in France with local authority permission. Officials in Saint-Tropez confirmed Monday that Bardot will be interred in a seaside cemetery there, though a date was not provided.
Born on September 28, 1934, in Paris, Bardot was raised in an affluent, traditional Catholic household. She was married four times and had one child, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, with her second husband, actor Jacques Charrier.
Her transition from cinematic stardom to animal rights activism reportedly began on the set of her final film, “The Edifying and Joyous Story of Colinot,” where she purchased a goat to save it from slaughter and kept it in her hotel room.
In a 2024 interview ahead of her 90th birthday, Bardot reflected, “I’m very proud of the first chapter of my life. It gave me fame, and that fame allows me to protect animals — the only cause that truly matters to me.” Her legacy remains a complex tapestry woven with threads of glamour, activism, and deeply polarizing political convictions.