The French Riviera town of Saint-Tropez bid a final farewell to one of its most famous residents on Wednesday, as film legend turned animal rights campaigner Brigitte Bardot was laid to rest. The funeral, broadcast on large screens across the town, drew a mix of celebrities, activists, and political figures, most notably the far-right leader Marine Le Pen.
A Saint-Tropez send-off for a French icon
Bardot died at her La Madrague villa on 28 December at the age of 91. Her husband, Bernard d'Ormale, later confirmed to Paris Match that the cause was cancer, stating she had handled two operations "very well" before the illness "took her" last month. The funeral service was held at the Notre-Dame de l'Assomption church, a focal point in the town she called home.
The procession through Saint-Tropez was a public event. As the hearse transported Bardot's coffin, it passed through the iconic Place des Lices and by the port, where crowds gathered. According to local reports from Nice-Matin, cheers accompanied the cortege, and the song of opera singer Maria Callas played as her coffin entered the church.
A life of fame, activism, and controversy
Bardot's legacy is a multifaceted one. She shot to international stardom in the 1950s, revolutionising French cinema and becoming a global symbol of sexual liberation with films like And God Created Woman. However, she abandoned acting in the 1970s to dedicate herself to animal rights, founding a namesake foundation that became a powerful voice in the cause.
Her later years were marked by political controversy. She was convicted five times for inciting racial hatred, primarily for comments about Muslim communities in France. Bardot became an outspoken supporter of Marine Le Pen and her National Rally party, admiring its anti-immigration stance. She once likened Le Pen to a modern-day Joan of Arc, a sentiment the politician reciprocated by citing Bardot as a model for Marianne, the national symbol of France.
Mourners reflect a complex legacy
The attendees at the funeral reflected the different chapters of Bardot's life. Alongside family, including her 65-year-old son Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, were French singers Jean-Roch and Mireille Mathieu, TV personality Caroline Margeridon, and Canadian-American conservationist Paul Watson.
The presence of Marine Le Pen was particularly significant, underscoring Bardot's political allegiances. Bruno Jacquelin, spokesperson for the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, stated the ceremony would be simple and reflect who she was, with a focus on her devotion to animals.
Yet, her passing has prompted a mixed reaction. Green party politician Sandrine Rousseau encapsulated the criticism, questioning the morality of being "moved by the fate of dolphins but remain indifferent to the deaths of migrants in the Mediterranean." This contrast between the passionate animal advocate and the figure convicted for hate speech remains the defining paradox of Brigitte Bardot's long and storied life.
