Apple Martin Reacts to Brigitte Bardot’s Death

Apple Martin, the daughter of actress Gwyneth Paltrow and musician Chris Martin, recently joined singer Chapel Lawn in paying homage to French actress Brigitte Bardot, following news of Bardot’s passing.

Upon hearing about Bardot’s death at the age of 91, Martin initially shared a tribute on Instagram. However, by the next day, that post was removed, and Martin posted a new message on her Instagram Story, critiquing Bardot’s beliefs. “I didn’t know anything about Bardot,” she expressed. “She is not who I thought she was.”

It seemed that Martin’s change of heart might have been influenced by backlash regarding Chapel Lawn’s eulogy, in which she had mentioned that Bardot inspired her 2023 song “Red Wine Supernova” and wished her to “rest in peace.” After realizing Bardot’s controversial past, Chapel Lawn also deleted her post, expressing her surprise and dismay on her Instagram Story, stating, “Oh my god – I had no idea about such madness – Mr. Bardot was representing me. I will not tolerate this. I am so sorry.”

Bardot, famous for her role in “And God Created a Woman,” faced multiple convictions for hate speech. Much of this stemmed from her remarks against halal and kosher practices, which courts deemed offensive to Muslim and Jewish communities. Moreover, she made derisive comments about the LGBTQ+ community, calling them “amusement park freaks” in her book, *Silent Screams*.

In 2019, a French court fined Bardot 20,000 euros for calling residents of La Réunion “savages,” a statement that prosecutors argued incited hateful sentiments.

Some media outlets have begun addressing Bardot’s extreme right-wing views following her death, highlighting the complexities of her legacy. An opinion article from a recent publication cautioned against overlooking her controversial beliefs in light of her passing, suggesting that it’s our duty to confront the duality of Bardot’s influence—both her contributions to the arts and her propagation of prejudice.