France's first lady, Brigitte Macron, has issued an apology following a fierce social media backlash after she was filmed using a vulgar slur against anti-rape activists. The incident has ignited a significant controversy in France, a country still grappling with the aftershocks of the #MeToo movement.
The Incident and the Apology
The controversy stems from an event on December 6, when the 72-year-old wife of President Emmanuel Macron attended a show by comedian Ary Abittan. Activists from the feminist collective #NousToutes (#AllofUs) interrupted the performance, protesting Abittan's return to the stage. The comedian was accused of rape in late 2021, though the case was dismissed after a three-year investigation, a ruling upheld on appeal in January 2024.
In footage later published by the media outlet Public, Mrs Macron was seen backstage comforting the 51-year-old Abittan. She subsequently referred to the masked protesters as 'sales c*****', which translates to 'dirty' or 'stupid b******' in English. In the video, Abittan tells her 'I'm scared', to which she replies: 'If there are any dirty b****es, we'll throw them out, especially masked bandits.'
Speaking to Brut on Monday, Mrs Macron offered a partial apology. 'I am sorry if I hurt women victims,' she stated, describing the remarks as 'private' comments. However, she added, 'I can't regret them. True, I am the wife of the president of the republic, but I am above all myself. And so when I am in private, I can let myself go in a way that is not totally proper.'
Widespread Backlash and Reclamation of the Insult
The publication of the video triggered immediate and widespread condemnation. The hashtag #SalesConnes began trending on social media, with prominent figures using it to express solidarity with the activists.
Oscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard and Judith Godrèche, a leading voice in France's #MeToo movement, were among those who posted in support. Godrèche wrote on Instagram: 'I'm a real bi**h too. And I support everyone else.'
Politicians across the spectrum denounced the first lady's language. Left-wing MP Aurélie Trouvé said the words were 'spitting in the face' of those fighting sexual violence, while Green party leader Cyrielle Chatelain called them an 'insult to all activists and all victims.' The Nous Toutes collective said it was 'extremely shocked and outraged' and quickly reclaimed the insult by promoting the #salesconnes hashtag.
A collective of around 60 feminist groups, Greve Feministe (Feminist Strike), demanded a public apology. The activists who disrupted the show had worn masks of Abittan bearing the word 'rapist' and shouted 'Abittan rapist'.
Broader Context of Sexual Violence Allegations in France
This incident occurs against a backdrop of high-profile sexual assault cases that have shaken the French cultural establishment. Most notably, screen icon Gérard Depardieu was convicted in May of sexually assaulting two women and faces a separate trial for an alleged 2018 rape, which he denies.
President Emmanuel Macron himself faced criticism in 2023 for stating that Depardieu was the target of a 'manhunt' and affirming his belief in the presumption of innocence.
Separately, the news follows an ongoing trial of seven individuals accused of cyber-bullying Brigitte Macron with vicious online rumours, including claims she is a 'paedophile' who was 'born a man'. The verdict in that Paris trial is expected next year.
Despite efforts by the first lady's office to frame her slur as criticism of the activists' 'radical methods', the backlash shows little sign of abating, highlighting the deep sensitivities and divisions in France's ongoing reckoning with sexual violence and gender politics.
