French First Lady's Words Stir Controversy Over Gender Issues

In France, a recent incident has sparked a heated debate about gender equality and free speech. Brigitte Macron, the country's first lady, was caught on camera using a derogatory term to describe protesters at a comedy show. The show was performed by Ary Abittan, a comedian who was accused of rape in 2021. The case was later dismissed by French courts.

The Incident

The protesters were members of the feminist collective #NousToutes, who interrupted Abittan's show to voice their concerns. In the video, Brigitte Macron is heard saying:

"If there are any stupid btches, we'll kick them out,"* before laughing.

She also asked Abittan not to discuss "the problem" that evening, presumably referring to the activists.

Public Reactions

The incident has drawn mixed reactions from French celebrities and politicians.

• Marion Cotillard, Academy Award winner, shared a black image on her Instagram account with the statement: > "Je suis une sale conne" (I'm a stupid btch) She captioned the post: > "Et fière de l’être."* (And proud of it.)

• Maud Bregeon, French government spokesperson, criticized the activists, stating that their actions showed disrespect for the court's decision. She also said that Brigitte Macron should not apologize for her remarks.

• Marine Tondelier, leader of France's green party, disagreed. She said that the first lady's comments were serious and that feminists have the right to express their opinions.

• François Hollande, former French president, weighed in on the issue. He said that Brigitte Macron's words were ill-chosen and that one should not use such language when discussing women fighting against violence.

Broader Implications

The incident has brought to light the ongoing tension between free speech and gender equality in France. It has also raised questions about the role of public figures in shaping public discourse.