Cesar Awards Tribute Sparks Mixed Reaction Over Bardot’s Legacy

A tribute to Brigitte Bardot at France’s César Awards — the country’s equivalent of the Oscars — was met with mixed reactions, including boos from parts of the audience. A video shared on social media captured applause alongside audible boos and a shout of “racist”.

Bardot, who died in December at the age of 91, was one of the most celebrated figures in postwar French cinema. She gained global fame through films such as And God Created Woman and Contempt.

However, after leaving acting in the early 1970s, her public image became controversial. She became politically active on the far right and was convicted several times by French courts for inciting racial hatred.

The debate over her legacy resurfaced after American musician Chappell Roan deleted an online tribute following Bardot’s death. Roan later said she did not support the actor’s views.

Bardot was widely known for her “sex symbol” image in the 1950s and 1960s. After retiring from films, she focused on animal rights activism. Later, she expressed strong political opinions. Her 2003 book criticised gay people, teachers and what she described as the “Islamisation” of French society. Courts fined her several times for racist and homophobic remarks, particularly targeting France’s Muslim community.

The César Awards have seen protests in the past. In 2021, actor Corinne Masiero staged a controversial protest on stage. In 2020, several attendees walked out after Roman Polanski won the best director award.

At this year’s ceremony, family drama The Ties That Bind Us, directed by Carine Tardieu, won best film. American filmmaker Richard Linklater received the best director award for Nouvelle Vague, a film about the making of Breathless.

The reaction to the tribute highlights the continuing debate over Bardot’s cultural impact and controversial public statements.