Chrissie Hynde Challenges Criticism of Brigitte Bardot’s Legacy

Chrissie Hynde has stepped into the fray following the death of Brigitte Bardot, the French cultural figure whose passing has reignited debate over her public image. Bardot, who died in Saint-Tropez on 28 December 2025 at the age of 91, had been hospitalised in October and underwent two significant operations after a late cancer diagnosis. Her funeral, held earlier this week, was broadcast throughout Saint-Tropez, drawing both mourners and onlookers. Her husband, Bernard d’Ormale, confirmed the details of her illness and final days.

In the days since Bardot’s death, a flurry of commentary has emerged, with some questioning whether her artistic and cultural contributions should be overshadowed by her political views. A piece in Vogue Magazine, provocatively titled ‘Mourning Brigitte Bardot Doesn’t Mean Absolving Her’, particularly caught Hynde’s attention. Bardot’s record includes five court appearances between 1997 and 2008 for inciting racial hatred, largely due to Islamophobic remarks. She was a vocal supporter of Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of France’s National Rally, and his daughter Marine, who attended Bardot’s funeral.

Hynde’s Response to Media Backlash

Taking to her social media, Hynde did not mince words about the coverage. She wrote,

Are you kidding me? Vogue magazine vilifying Brigitte Bardot the minute she died? Vogue magazine, and every fashion magazine in the world for that matter, owes more to Brigitte Bardot than any other human living or dead.

Hynde’s post continued with a robust defence of Bardot’s influence, stating,

She personified grace, elegance, beauty, glamour, style, and women’s rights. She was an animal rights activist and anyone who knows anything about animal rights knows that we will always side with the animal if it’s being tortured or abused in any way.

Hynde was adamant that Bardot’s political leanings should not eclipse her legacy in other spheres. She remarked,

Politics has nothing to do with it

and went on to address the accusations of Islamophobia, saying,

And by the way, a ‘phobia’ is an irrational fear. I cannot imagine that Bardot had any irrational fears judging by the way she lived her life. Perhaps people working for Vogue magazine should buy themselves a dictionary.

Reflections on Influence and Inspiration

Hynde’s statement also took a swipe at the fashion industry’s reliance on Bardot’s image, suggesting that many in the business owe their careers to her. She added,

I’m not even sure why anyone buys Vogue magazine but then I’m in the rock ‘n’ roll business. We don’t use make up artists or stylists. If anything we just try to emulate our heroes, like Lemmy and Brigitte Bardot. They expressed themselves by the way they looked… they didn’t hire people to do it for them.

The conversation around Bardot’s legacy has not been limited to Hynde. Pop singer Chappell Roan initially posted a tribute on Instagram, calling Bardot her “inspiration for red wine supernova.” However, after learning more about Bardot’s controversial views, Roan deleted her message and clarified, “Holy shit I did not know all that insane shit Ms. Bardot stood for. I do not condone this. Very disappointing to learn.”