France divided over tribute to Brigitte Bardot due to her far-right views

Paris- French politicians were divided Monday over how to pay tribute to the late Brigitte Bardot who, despite her screen legend, sparked controversy (and condemnation) in later life with her far-right views.

the movie star He died on Sunday at the age of 91. at home in the south of France. Media around the world published iconic images of her and tributes following the announcement.

Bardot rose to fame with the 1956 film “And God Created Woman” and appeared in about 50 films, but she turned her back on film in 1973 to fight for animal rights.

But his ties to the far right sparked controversy.

Bardot was convicted five times of hate speech, mainly against Muslims but also against the inhabitants of the French island of Réunion, whom she described as “savages.”

She died before dawn on Sunday morning alongside her fourth husband, Bernard d’Ormale, a former far-right adviser.

“She whispered a word of love to him… and he left,” Bruno Jacquelin, representative of his foundation for animals, told BFM television.

French President Emmanuel Macron hailed her as a “legend” of 20th-century cinema who “embodied a life of freedom.”

Right-wing politicians praise Bardot

Far-right figures were among the first to mourn her.

Marine le Pen, whose National Rally party is ranking high in the polls, called her “incredibly French: free, indomitable, whole.”

Bardot backed Le Pen for president in 2012 and 2017, describing her as a modern-day “Joan of Arc” who she hoped could “save” France.

Conservative politician Eric Ciotti suggested a national farewell like the one organized for French rock legend Johnny Hallyday.

He launched an online petition that garnered just over 7,000 signatures on Monday.

Left-wing politicians moderate praise and some are very critical

But few left-wing politicians have spoken about Bardot’s passing.

“Brigitte Bardot was an imposing figure, a symbol of freedom, rebellion and passion,” Philippe Brun, a Socialist Party deputy, told Europa 1 radio.

“We are sad that he is gone,” he said, adding that he was not opposed to a national tribute.

But he did hint at his controversial political views.

“As for his political commitments, there will be enough time – in the coming days and weeks – to talk about them,” he said.

Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel called Bardot a divisive figure.

But “we all agree that French cinema created BB and made it shine throughout the world,” he wrote in X.

Lawmaker Sandrine Rousseau of the leftist Green Party was more critical.

“Being moved by the fate of dolphins but remaining indifferent to the deaths of migrants in the Mediterranean: what level of cynicism is that?” he joked on BlueSky.

Bardot’s comments about her funeral drew attention

Bardot said she wanted to be buried in her garden with a simple wooden cross on her grave – as for her animals – and wanted to avoid “a crowd of idiots” at her funeral.

Such a burial is possible in France if permission is granted by local authorities.

Saint-Tropez authorities said Monday that Bardot will be buried in a seaside cemetery, without giving a date.

Born on September 28, 1934 in Paris, Bardot was raised in a well-to-do traditional Catholic home.

Married four times, she had a son, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, with her second husband, the actor Jacques Charrier.

After leaving the cinema, Bardot retired to her home in Saint-Tropez to dedicate herself to animal rights.

His calling apparently arose when he encountered a goat on the set of his latest film, “The Uplifting and Joyous History of Colinot.” To avoid being killed, he bought the animal and kept it in his hotel room.

“I am very proud of the first chapter of my life,” she told News in an interview in 2024, before her 90th birthday.

“It gave me fame, and that fame allows me to protect animals, the only cause I really care about.”