Brigitte Macron is facing controversy after describing radical feminists who interrupted a stand-up comedian in a protest over alleged sexual violence as “stupid bitches”.
The French first lady’s outburst, which was captured on video, drew an angry reaction from left-wingers.
Her use of the phrase sales connes — a vulgar insult that translates roughly as “stupid bitches” — was in stark contrast to the highly consensual public image she has cultivated since President Macron took office in 2017.
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The incident arose when she went to see a show by Ary Abittan, a French comedian who had faced accusations of rape, which were thrown out by judges in January after a three-year investigation.
On Saturday, as Abittan, 51, performed at the celebrated Folies Bergères theatre in Paris on his return to the stage in the capital after the rape case was dropped, four feminists interrupted the show.
The feminists, members of the #NousToutes movement, which campaigns against sexual violence, stood up wearing masks, raising their hands and shouting “Abittan violeur” (Abittan rapist).
The next day, the first lady went to the show with Tiphaine Auzière, her daughter from her first marriage. Meeting Abittan before he went on stage, she asked him how he was. “I’m afraid,” he replied.
Activists from #NousToutesParisNord disrupted the performance of Ary Abittan, who had been accused of rape in 2021. Judges dropped the case after a three-year investigation
“If there are any stupid bitches [here], we will kick them out,” Brigitte Macron, 72, said. “We can’t have that, especially masked bandits.”
The video was shown by Public, a website and magazine specialising in celebrity gossip.
Sarah Legrain, a radical-left France Unbowed party MP, said the first lady had “insulted feminists campaigning against the scheduling by the Folies Bergères of Ary Abittan [who has been] accused of rape”.
One of the feminists who interrupted the show told France Inter, the state radio, that she was “profoundly shocked” by the first lady’s comments.
Ary Abittan attends the Sax 54 Party at Hotel Sax Paris in September
FOC KAN/WIREIMAGE
The feminist, who was identified only by her first name, Gwen, said Brigitte Macron’s words “clearly underline her … vision … of sexist and sexual violence. Beyond us, she is really insulting the victims of violence.”
A person close to the first lady told Agence France-Presse, the press agency, that her intention had been to “criticise the radical method employed by those who disturbed Ary Abittan’s show in masks to stop the artist performing on stage”.
Brigitte Macron’s words attracted widespread media attention in a country that had come to view her as a pillar of stability amid the turmoil of her husband’s second term. She has hitherto gone out of her way to avoid controversy, mostly restricting public appearances to charity work and state functions.
Judith Godrèche, 53, the actress who became a symbol of the fight against sexual violence in French cinema when she denounced the alleged assaults and rapes she had suffered as a teenage film star, criticised the first lady.
“Me too, I am a stupid bitch,” she posted on Instagram. “And I support all the others.”
Marine Tondelier, 39, the head of the Ecologists party, who has announced plans to stand in the 2027 presidential election, called Brigitte Macron’s remarks “very serious”, adding: “A first lady should not say that.”
Tondelier said “feminists have the right to give their opinion” on Abittan’s return to the stage.
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Emmanuel Macron, 47, came to office declaring that gender equality would be the “great cause” of his presidency. But he angered feminists when he expressed support for Gérard Depardieu, 76, the actor who has been found guilty of sexual assault and accused of rape, which he denies.
Abittan, a well-known figure in France, was placed under investigation in 2021 on suspicion of raping a 23-year-old woman with whom he had what was termed an “on-off relationship”. Charges were dropped in 2023 but the alleged victim appealed. In January, the Paris appeal court confirmed the decision to drop the case.