In a swift reversal, Grammy-winning queer pop artist Chappell Roan has publicly renounced her musical tribute to the late French film icon Brigitte Bardot. This came after Roan learned of Bardot's long history of making homophobic and xenophobic statements and her support for France's far-right political movement.
A Tribute Quickly Retracted
Following the news of Brigitte Bardot's death at age 91 on Sunday, Chappell Roan initially posted a tribute on social media. She wrote, "Rest in peace Ms. Bardot. She was my inspiration for red wine supernova." The track, released in 2023, is a song Roan herself described as a "campy gay girl song." Its opening lyrics directly reference the star: "She was a playboy, Brigitte Bardot / She showed me things I didn't know."
However, the tribute was short-lived. After being informed of Bardot's controversial public stances, Roan deleted her post, effectively disavowing the homage.
Bardot's Controversial Legacy Beyond Film
While celebrated globally for her acting and modeling career, Brigitte Bardot's later years were dominated by inflammatory rhetoric. She was an ardent supporter of France's far-right National Front party, backing candidates like Catherine Megret and Marine Le Pen.
Her public comments frequently targeted immigrants and Muslim communities. She criticized what she termed the "Islamisation" of France, views that led to her being convicted five separate times by French courts for inciting racial hatred.
Bardot's bigotry also extended to the LGBTQ+ community. In writings and interviews, she compared homosexual people to pedophiles. She also dismissed the global #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault as "hypocritical, ridiculous, and without interest."
Artistic Inspiration vs. Personal Ethics
This incident highlights the modern dilemma many artists and fans face when the personal beliefs of a cultural icon clash with contemporary values. For Chappell Roan, a prominent queer artist, the discovery of Bardot's homophobic and xenophobic record made continued praise untenable.
Roan's quick action to retract her tribute underscores a broader cultural shift where public figures are increasingly held accountable for the ideologies of those they celebrate. It reflects a conscious decision to separate artistic inspiration from the endorsement of harmful personal and political views.
The episode serves as a stark reminder that Bardot's legacy is now a complex and divided one: that of a timeless screen beauty and style icon, forever juxtaposed with her documented history of promoting hatred and intolerance.
