Brigitte Macron has called militants from the #NousToutes collective 'dirty bitches' for interrupting Ary Abittan's show at the Folies Bergère. The disruption follows a rape accusation against the comedian, which was dismissed. The first lady attended the performance the next day, offering her support to the artist.
On Saturday evening, four militants from #NousToutes disrupted Ary Abittan's show at the Folies Bergère in Paris, wearing masks depicting him labeled 'rapist' and chanting 'Abittan rapist.' This action stems from a rape accusation against the comedian in late 2021 by a woman he had been seeing. After three years of investigation, a dismissal was issued and upheld on appeal in January.
The following Sunday, Brigitte Macron attended the same performance with her daughter Tiphaine Auzière. A video released by the weekly Public shows the first lady backstage reassuring Abittan, who voices his fear. 'If there are any dirty bitches, we'll throw them out,' she replies laughing, adding 'especially masked bandits.'
The #NousToutes collective shared the video on Instagram, voicing shock. An activist using the pseudonym Gwen told AFP: 'We are deeply shocked and outraged. The words used say a lot about her vision of things; the political message is extremely shocking. It's another spit on victims and feminist associations.' Brigitte Macron's entourage clarified that she was only criticizing the radical method of the masked disruptors, without endorsing their effort to prevent the artist from performing.
Actress Judith Godrèche supported the collective on Instagram: 'Me too, I'm a dirty bitch. And I support all the others.' Political figures condemned the remarks. Marine Tondelier, national secretary of the ecologists, said on BFM-TV: 'These words are very serious; a first lady shouldn't say that.' Manon Aubry, LFI MEP, posted on X: 'We started with women's rights as the 'great cause of the five-year term,' and it ends with insulting them.' Sarah Legrain, LFI deputy, added: 'A dismissal doesn't erase a woman's word and her ITT [temporary incapacity for work].'