A private remark by France's First Lady, Brigitte Macron, has erupted into a public firestorm, intensifying the nation's fraught debate over sexual violence, protest, and political language. The controversy stems from a video, published by the media outlet *Public*, which captured Mrs. Macron using a coarse insult to describe feminist activists who had disrupted a Parisian comedy show. Her subsequent defense, criticizing the protesters' "radical method," has further galvanized her critics and drawn prominent figures from the arts into a heated cultural confrontation.
The incident unfolded at the historic Folies Bergère theatre, where actor-comedian Ary Abittan was performing. His presence itself was a flashpoint; Abittan faced a rape allegation in 2021, though judicial authorities closed the investigation last year citing insufficient evidence. In protest, members of the feminist collective "Nous Toutes" infiltrated the Saturday evening performance. Wearing masks of the comedian emblazoned with the word "rapist," they interrupted the act, decrying what they term a pervasive "culture of impunity" for alleged perpetrators of sexual assault.
The following day, unaware she was being recorded backstage, Brigitte Macron sought to console Abittan. In the now-viral clip, she is heard offering reassurance: "If there are any stupid bitches, we’ll kick them out." When the footage surfaced on Monday, the reaction was swift and severe. By Tuesday, her communications team had issued a statement to the AFP news agency, attempting to reframe the comment. A representative clarified that the First Lady's objection was not to the cause but to the "radical method" of the demonstration, arguing it stifled artistic expression.
This justification has done little to quell the outrage. Instead, it has catalyzed a powerful wave of solidarity with the activists. The insult itself has been reclaimed as a badge of honor on social media, with the hashtag #salesconnes trending as a symbol of defiance. Acclaimed actor and director Judith Godrèche, who has become a leading voice in France's #MeToo movement following her own accusations against prominent directors, publicly aligned herself with the term. Belgian comedian Florence Mendez joined her, signaling a broad cultural front against what they perceive as the trivialization of feminist dissent.
The episode transcends a mere diplomatic gaffe, exposing deeper societal fissures. It highlights the tension between institutional responses to sexual violence and the growing impatience of activist movements demanding immediate accountability. Furthermore, it raises questions about the language used by public figures when addressing sensitive social movements, suggesting a disconnect between the Élysée and a significant portion of the electorate. As the hashtag continues to circulate and celebrities amplify their support, the controversy ensures that conversations about power, protest, and permissible discourse will remain at the forefront of the French public sphere for the foreseeable future.