Brigitte Bardot: A Controversial Legacy of Fame, Activism, and Racism
Brigitte Bardot died on 28 December 2025 at age 91, leaving behind a complex legacy as a sex symbol, animal-rights advocate, and a figure widely criticized for racist views. She rose to global fame through her 1956 film And God Created Woman, which challenged gender norms by portraying female desire and contributed significantly to sexual liberation in France.
In her later years, Bardot became known for espousing racist and Islamophobic views, openly condemning Muslims and illegal immigrants. She was convicted five times for incitement to racial hatred. Bardot maintained close personal ties to the radical right, being married to Bernard d’Ormale, an adviser to Jean-Marie Le Pen, who praised her nostalgia for a "clean France."
Bardot's experience of intense paparazzi intrusion, including an incident during a 1960 home birth, partly influenced France’s privacy laws. Media outlets reflected on her contradictory public image: Le Monde described her as embodying racial hatred, while Libération noted a shift in her public discourse from animal-rights advocacy to addressing identity-based racism. Intellectuals like Ginette Vincendeau and Emilie Giaime provided nuanced interpretations of her influence through the years.
French President Emmanuel Macron publicly praised Bardot after her death, calling her a "legend of the century" and highlighting a life characterized by freedom. This recognition underscores the paradox of Bardot's reception, celebrating her cultural impact while confronting her controversial stance on social issues.
