Celebrities and Activists Rally in Solidarity After Private Video Leak
A private video showing France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron, using a profane insult against feminist protesters has triggered a major political and cultural controversy. In the clip, filmed backstage at the Folies Bergère on December 7, she is heard calling activists from the #NousToutes collective “sales connes” (“dirty bitches”) after they disrupted a show by comedian Ary Abittan. The leak has fueled outrage across the political left and feminist circles, with the incident quickly spilling onto the international stage.
#JeSuisUneSaleConne: A Hashtag of Defiance
In response, a wave of French celebrities has launched a solidarity campaign on social media. Prominent figures have adopted the hashtag #JeSuisUneSaleConne (“I am a dirty bitch”) to express support for feminist associations and victims of sexual violence.
- Actress Judith Godrèche wrote: “Me too, I am a dirty bitch. And I support all the others.”
- Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard stated: “I am a dirty bitch and proud to be one.”
- Actress Alexandra Lamy quipped: “We better understand the lack of budget for [feminist] associations.”
- Singer Camélia Jordana reacted: “Dirty bitch and proud to be one. Support to all victims and all activists thanks to whom this world is barely more bearable.”
Other notable supporters include singers Clara Luciani and Angèle, writer Camille Kouchner, and director Andréa Bescond.
Government Defense and Political Repercussions
The government has moved to defend the First Lady. Government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon argued on France 2 that Brigitte Macron spoke “spontaneously” in a “private setting” and on a subject where “she cannot be faulted.” Bregeon emphasized that the protesters had targeted a performer, Ary Abittan, who benefited from a dismissal of rape charges after a three-year investigation, a decision confirmed on appeal in January. “Leave Brigitte Macron alone,” Bregeon urged.
However, other political voices offered more nuanced criticism. Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the National Assembly, deemed it “dangerous” to challenge the presumption of innocence regarding the comedian but also called the vocabulary used by the First Lady “quite unworthy.” “We do not call people names, especially when they are activists carrying a just cause,” she stated.
Feminist Groups Demand Apologies, Citing a Pattern
Feminist organizations have condemned the remarks as deeply harmful. The collective Grève Féministe, comprising around sixty associations and unions, argued the comments “legitimize hatred towards feminists” and “minimize the gravity of sexual violence.” They have called for “public apologies” from Brigitte Macron and a “clear condemnation” of sexist and sexual violence.
This incident echoes previous tensions between the Macron presidency and feminist groups. In December 2023, President Emmanuel Macron drew fierce criticism for publicly supporting actor Gérard Depardieu, who was under investigation for rape at the time and has since been convicted for sexual assaults. Associations labeled the president’s earlier statements a “spit in the face” of victims.
The leaked video, reportedly sent to celebrity press by mistake by the Bestimage agency, continues to fuel a debate that intertwines issues of free speech, protest, the presumption of innocence, and the treatment of feminist activism at the highest levels of the French state.
