France is preparing to say goodbye to cinema icon Brigitte Bardot, who passed away at the age of 91. Yet even in death, the “sex symbol of the 20th century” continues to divide public opinion: the funeral is set to become the center of a political scandal and already signals a violation of the actress’s final wishes.
It has been announced that the official farewell for Bardot will take place on January 7 at the Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption church in Saint-Tropez. However, the main intrigue and controversy revolve around her final resting place.
Back in 2018, Bardot clearly stated in an interview with Le Monde that she wanted to be buried in her own garden. The actress was adamant about not resting in a cemetery, so that “a crowd of idiots” would not trample the graves of her parents and grandparents. However, the town hall has already announced plans to bury the legend at the “star-studded” sea cemetery in Saint-Tropez. It appears that her family may go against Bardot’s wishes to ensure a more “public” status.
Political disputes have also erupted around Bardot’s burial. While right-wing politicians are calling for a “national farewell” on the scale of Johnny Hallyday, left-wing forces are strongly opposed. The reason: the actress’s radical views.
During her lifetime, Bardot was convicted five times for hate speech, particularly for comments against Muslims and the residents of Réunion Island, whom she referred to as “savages.”
A political boycott is already underway. President Emmanuel Macron offered a brief statement, calling Bardot a “legend,” but there is no indication he will attend the funeral. Socialist leader Olivier Faure declared that state honors are not for those who “turned their back on republican values.” Meanwhile, Macron’s far-right rival, Marine Le Pen, has already announced her intention to attend Bardot’s farewell ceremony.
Green Party deputy Sandrine Rousseau succinctly summarized the star’s contradictions:
“Caring about the fate of dolphins while remaining indifferent to the deaths of migrants in the Mediterranean—what level of cynicism does that require?”
Bardot passed away at dawn on Sunday, December 28. Beside her was her fourth husband, Bernard d’Ormale—a former adviser to the far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen, father of Marine Le Pen. Before her death, Brigitte whispered a final word of love to her husband.
