Controversy Over Brigitte Bardot Memorial
Olivier Faure, the leader of the French Socialist Party, has dismissed suggestions for a national memorial honoring the late actress Brigitte Bardot. He stated that such recognition should be reserved for those who have rendered “extraordinary service to the nation.”
While Faure acknowledged Bardot’s status as a legendary actress, he pointed out that she had “turned her back on republican values,” as reported by BBC.
The left-wing response emerged after French politician Eric Ciotti called for a national vigil to honor Bardot, which was met with resistance from those who oppose her political beliefs.
Ciotti, who leads the right-wing UDR party, remarked that “France has an obligation to honor Marianne,” referencing Bardot’s representation of the French symbol of liberty in the 1960s.
Bardot passed away at the age of 91 on Sunday, according to reports from Breitbart News.
A petition initiated by Ciotti has since garnered over 23,000 signatures and backing from several right-wing allies. He emphasized the need for France to acknowledge women who have brought remarkable international recognition and have played roles in advocating for women’s rights and abortion legislation.
In an announcement, Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi indicated that the city would designate an “iconic place” in tribute to Bardot.
Bardot’s film career began with her breakout role in And God Created Woman in 1956, leading to appearances in around 50 films before stepping back from the industry in 1973 to focus on animal welfare. She spent many years residing at La Madrague in Saint-Tropez on the French Riviera.
Known for her stance against open borders and mass immigration, Bardot expressed concerns about preserving the Judeo-Christian foundations of the French Republic. She believed that these values should not be undermined by newcomers who harbor hatred against the culture that offers them asylum.
Starting in the late 1990s, Bardot faced multiple fines for comments deemed as inciting “racial hatred,” often directed towards Muslims, both in interviews and through her online statements.
In 2008, she was fined €15,000 after posting on her website that Muslims were “destroying our country by imposing their ways.” Further backlash followed her 2003 book, A Cry in the Silence, which criticized homosexuals, modern art, politicians, and immigrants for the perceived decline of French culture.
