Brigitte Macron filmed using slur against feminist protesters in Paris | Brigitte Macron
Brigitte Macron faced criticism on Tuesday after a video of her using an insult to condemn feminist protesters emerged.
In the scene filmed on Sunday, France’s First Lady was seen backstage at the Folies Bergère Theater in Paris arguing with French actor and humorist Ary Abittan, who has previously been accused of rape, before his performance. The previous night, feminist campaigners closed the demonstration with chants of “Abittan, rapist!”
Before Sunday’s performance, Macron asked him how he felt. When she said she was scared, he made a derogatory and sexist reference to women, adding: “We’re going to throw them out.”
In the statement made by her office, it was stated that she was trying to calm her nerves: “As seen in the video, Ms. Macron’s only intention was to reassure the artist, who said ‘I am afraid’ to her in the dressing room before going on stage, since her show was interrupted the previous evening.
“He is not attacking a cause in any way. However, he does not condone the radical methods used to prevent the artist from taking the stage, as was the case on Saturday night.”
Feminist campaign group Nous Toutes (“All of Us”) said its activists blocked Abittan’s show to protest what it described as a “culture of impunity” regarding sexual violence in France.
According to French media, judges ended the investigation into the rape allegation against Abittan in 2021 due to lack of evidence; This decision was upheld on appeal in January this year.
Nous Toutes said in a statement on Instagram: “We condemn venues that roll out the red carpet for men accused of rape and normalize sexism and sexual violence. This is a clear insult to the victims. Victims, we believe you. Rapists, we do not forgive you!”
Opponents of president Emmanuel Macron, who are on the left wing of French politics, criticized his wife’s use of a sexist slur, and some said she should apologize. Among the critics was former president François Hollande. “There is a problem of vulgarity,” Hollande told broadcaster RTL.
But National Rally MP Jean-Philippe Tanguy, from the French far-right, said Brigitte Macron’s comments were delivered privately and were “stolen”. He told broadcaster BFMTV: “If each of us were filmed backstage talking about things with friends, I think there would be a lot to interpret.” “This is all so hypocritical.”
