Brigitte Macron's Comments
France's First Lady, Brigitte Macron, made a comment during a meeting with comedian Ary Abittan before his performance on Sunday. In a video recording, Abittan states he feels "scared," to which Mrs. Macron responds, "if there are any stupid bitches we'll kick them out." A member of Mrs. Macron's team later informed AFP news agency that her words were intended to "critique the radical method" of the protest.
Background to the Protest
The comments followed an incident on Saturday where activists interrupted a stand-up show by Ary Abittan, shouting "Abittan rapist" while wearing masks depicting the comedian. Abittan was accused of rape in 2021; however, investigators subsequently dropped the case due to insufficient evidence.
Public Reaction
French celebrities and feminist groups have expressed disapproval regarding Brigitte Macron's statement concerning the activists. The term used by Mrs. Macron, "sales connes" (translated as "stupid bitches"), has since been adopted by various public figures and feminists online. Many individuals are utilizing the hashtag "#salesconnes" on social media to demonstrate support for the feminist group Nous Toutes, which organized the demonstration and advocates against violence towards women.
Several prominent figures have publicly aligned with this sentiment:
- Judith Godrèche, an actor who has accused a film director of historical rape, stated on social media, "I too am a stupid bitch."
- Belgian comedian Florence Mendez also declared she was "proud" to be identified with the term.
- Actor and singer Nadège Beausson-Diagne adopted the term on Instagram, expressing support for the woman who accused Abittan and for Nous Toutes, indicating the group's continued efforts against sexual violence.
- Actor Rachida Brakni thanked the "bitches" and tagged Nous Toutes in her post.