Brigitte Bardot: From Iconic Star to Controversial Figure

Brigitte Bardot’s name has long been synonymous with both glamour and controversy. Early in her career, the French actress became an unexpected symbol of the sexual revolution, challenging the restrictive roles women were expected to play. Her breakout role in the 1956 film And God Created Woman cast her as a free-spirited, sensual orphan, a performance that drew sharp criticism from some quarters. A Philadelphia district attorney at the time labeled the film as “lascivious, sacrilegious, obscene, indecent, or immoral nature,” yet it remains a landmark of the era. Bardot’s willingness to push boundaries helped pave the way for greater freedom and visibility for women, aligning her with the rise of second-wave feminism.

Throughout her early years on screen, Bardot embodied a new kind of female independence. The press even coined the term “sex kitten” to describe her unique blend of confidence and playful sensuality. While her image was liberating for many, it also came with a heavy price. Bardot was relentlessly pursued by paparazzi and often felt dehumanized by the attention. She retired from acting at 39, turning her focus to animal welfare and founding The Brigitte Bardot Foundation. Her foundation’s announcement of her passing highlighted her dedication to animal rights, describing her as “a world-renowned actress and singer, who chose to abandon her prestigious career to dedicate her life and energy to animal welfare and her foundation.”

Controversies and Shifting Public Image

Bardot’s legacy as a cinematic icon is undeniable. Simone de Beauvoir once called her an emblem of “absolute freedom,” a testament to the impact she had on perceptions of femininity. However, as Bardot withdrew from public life, she became increasingly associated with far-right politics, anti-feminist views, and inflammatory rhetoric.

Her 2003 memoir, A Cry in the Silence, shocked many with its derogatory language toward LGBTQIA individuals and the unemployed. She described schools as “dens of depravations filled with drug dealers, young terrorist clubs and condom users,” and criticized teachers for their appearance. These statements marked a stark departure from the image many had of her as a bold, progressive figure. In a previous memoir, she even referred to her only child as a “cancerous tumor,” expressing a preference for animals over people. This contradiction between her compassion for animals and her harsh views on humanity became a defining aspect of her later years.

Political Alignment and Legal Troubles

Bardot’s political leanings became more pronounced after marrying Bernard d’Ormale, an adviser to the far-right National Front. She openly expressed disdain for the left, multiculturalism, and the European Union. Bardot praised Jean-Marie Le Pen, a known Holocaust denier, for his steadfastness, and called Marine Le Pen “the Joan of Arc of the 21st century.” Marine Le Pen, in turn, paid tribute to Bardot, calling her “exceptional for her talent, courage, frankness and beauty,” and “incredibly French. Free, indomitable, whole. She will be hugely missed.”

Bardot’s refusal to moderate her views led to multiple legal battles. Her attorney once stated, “She has the impression that people want to silence her. She will not be silenced.” In a 2012 interview, Bardot said, “I don’t care about looking conservative and awkward. I’m only looking to assuage my soul and protect the animals.” Her repeated convictions for hate speech stemmed from her belief in free expression, even when it crossed into harmful territory.

Racist and Islamophobic Statements

Between 1997 and 2008, Bardot faced court proceedings five times for inciting racial hatred. She was fined $15,000 for saying,

“I am fed up with being under the thumb of this population [the Muslim community] which is destroying us, destroying our country and imposing its acts.”

In 2018, she was sued again after calling residents of Réunion “aboriginals who have kept the genes of savages.” Many of her Islamophobic remarks were tied to the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, which she called “barbarous” due to the ritual slaughter of sheep. She claimed France was being “invaded by sheep-slaughtering Muslims,” and further stated,

“Islamists have a mania for throat-cutting. I’m not making it up. You just have to look at the television.”

Bardot also insisted that Muslims were “cutting the throats of women and children,” warning,

“[Muslims will] cut our throats one day and it will serve us right.”

Her comments drew strong condemnation, including from the European Jewish Congress, which called them “deeply offensive.”

Rejection of Feminism and Final Years

Despite her early role in advancing women’s rights, Bardot later distanced herself from feminism. In a recent interview, she criticized the #MeToo movement, saying,

“People with talent who grab a girl’s bottom are thrown into the bottom of the ditch. We could at least let them carry on living. They can’t live any more.”

She previously told Paris Match that most women coming forward were “being hypocritical and ridiculous.” Reflecting on her own experiences, Bardot said,

“I was never the victim of sexual harassment. And I found it charming when men told me that I was beautiful or I had a nice little backside.”

She summed up her stance simply:

“Feminism isn’t my thing. I like guys.”

For someone who once challenged the status quo, her later years were marked by divisive opinions that overshadowed her earlier achievements.