French split over Brigitte Bardot tribute due to her far right views

Source: CBS News/AFP

Updated on: December 29, 2025 / 8:14 AM EST


Paris — French politicians were divided on Monday over how to pay tribute to the late Brigitte Bardot who, despite her screen legend, courted controversy — and convictions — in later life with her far-right views.

The film star died on Sunday at the age of 91 at home in the south of France. Media around the globe splashed iconic images of her and tributes following the announcement.

Bardot shot to fame in the 1956 film "And God Created Woman" and went on to appear in about 50 films, but turned her back on cinema in 1973 to throw herself into fighting for animal rights. But her links to the far-right stirred controversy.

Bardot was convicted five times for hate speech, mostly about Muslims but also about the inhabitants of the French island of Reunion, whom she described as "savages." She died before dawn on Sunday morning with her fourth husband, Bernard d'Ormale, a former adviser to the far right, by her side.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/brigitte-bardot-tribute-france-split-far-right-views/