Brigitte Bardot: From Iconic Star to Controversial Figure

Brigitte Bardot’s name has long been synonymous with provocation. Early in her career, she unwittingly became a catalyst for a shift in attitudes towards sexuality. Her role in the 1956 film And God Created Woman saw her cast as a liberated, uninhibited character, which drew sharp criticism from some quarters. A district attorney in Philadelphia once described her performance as being of a

“lascivious, sacrilegious, obscene, indecent, or immoral nature”

. Yet, this very notoriety helped to challenge restrictive norms and contributed to the momentum of second-wave feminism, making controversy almost inevitable for Bardot.

Throughout her early years on screen, Bardot embodied a new kind of female autonomy. The British and American press even coined the term “sex kitten” with her in mind, blending confidence with a playful, provocative edge. While this image was empowering for many, it also brought relentless media attention and personal strain. Bardot eventually stepped away from acting at 39, turning her focus to animal welfare through her foundation. Her death was marked by tributes that highlighted her commitment to this cause, 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.”

Public Scandals and Shifting Persona

Bardot’s later years were marked by a series of public scandals. Her 2003 memoir, A Cry in the Silence, shocked many with its disparaging remarks about LGBTQIA individuals and the unemployed, as well as harsh criticism of schools and teachers. She referred to some as

“cheap f*ggots or circus freaks”

and described the unemployed as

“people who only accept jobs on the black market … and cash in on taxpayers’ money”

. These comments were a far cry from the image of the daring film star and were met with widespread dismay.

Her personal life also drew attention. In a 1996 memoir, Bardot described her only child as a

“cancerous tumour”

and admitted she would have

“preferred to give birth to a little dog”

. This led to legal action and a significant damages payment. The contrast between her compassion for animals and her often harsh views on people became increasingly apparent. Bardot herself once remarked,

“I gave my beauty and youth to men. Now I am giving my wisdom and experience – the best of me – to animals.”

Political Leanings and Legal Troubles

Bardot’s political affiliations shifted dramatically over time. After marrying Bernard d’Ormale, an adviser to the far-right National Front, her views became more pronounced. She expressed disdain for left-wing politics, multiculturalism, and the European Union, and praised figures such as Jean-Marie Le Pen, whom she called

“faithful to his ideas through thick and thin”

. She also described Marine Le Pen as

“the Joan of Arc of the 21st century”

. These associations further fuelled debate about her public persona.

Her refusal to moderate her opinions led to repeated legal action. Bardot was prosecuted several times for hate speech, insisting on her right to free expression. Her lawyer once stated,

“She has the impression that people want to silence her. She will not be silenced.”

Bardot herself told Vanity Fair in 2012,

“I don’t care about looking conservative and awkward. I’m only looking to assuage my soul and protect the animals.”

Racism, Islamophobia, and Rejection of Feminism

Between 1997 and 2008, Bardot faced multiple convictions for inciting racial hatred, particularly for her remarks about Muslims and the festival of Eid al-Adha. She was fined 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 described residents of Réunion as

“aboriginals who have kept the genes of savages”

. Her comments about Muslims and ritual animal slaughter were widely condemned, including by the European Jewish Congress, which called her words

“deeply offensive”

.

Despite her early association with women’s liberation, Bardot later distanced herself from feminism. In a recent interview, she criticised 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 also remarked,

“The vast majority are being hypocritical and ridiculous”

about women coming forward with harassment claims. Reflecting on her own experiences, she 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.”

Bardot’s later views stood in stark contrast to the freedoms she once symbolised, leaving her legacy as a subject of ongoing debate.