A political and cultural firestorm has erupted in France after First Lady Brigitte Macron used vulgar language to describe feminist protesters, triggering a widespread online movement reclaiming the insult. The controversy began when activists from the organization Nous Toutes, which campaigns against violence toward women, disrupted a stand-up performance by comedian Ary Abittan on Saturday. The protesters, wearing masks of Abittan, shouted “Abittan rapist” during his show—referencing 2021 rape allegations against the comedian that were later dropped due to insufficient evidence.
The following day, Mrs. Macron attended Abittan’s performance with her daughter and met with the comedian beforehand. In a video recording of their conversation, Abittan expressed feeling “scared” about potential further disruptions. Mrs. Macron responded with “if there are any stupid bitches we’ll kick them out,” using the French phrase “sales connes” while smiling and laughing. Her team subsequently told AFP that her comments were intended to “critique the radical method” of the protest rather than target women specifically, emphasizing that “Brigitte Macron does not approve of this radical method.”
Instead of quelling the situation, Mrs. Macron’s remark ignited a digital uprising among French celebrities and feminists. The term “#salesconnes” (stupid bitches) has been widely adopted across social media platforms as a badge of honor rather than an insult. Prominent figures in French entertainment have joined the movement, including actress Judith Godrèche—who has previously accused a film director of historical rape—who declared on social media: “I too am a stupid bitch.”
Belgian comedian Florence Mendez expressed pride in identifying with the term, while actor and singer Nadège Beausson-Diagne posted on Instagram: “I too am a stupid bitch in summer, winter, spring and autumn.” She further voiced support for the “courageous” woman who had initially accused Abittan of rape and praised Nous Toutes, predicting the group would “come back stronger to fight together against sexual violence.” Actor Rachida Brakni similarly thanked the “bitches” in her social media post, directly tagging the feminist organization.
Stand-up comedian Marine Leonardi offered a different perspective, asserting that “Feminists are never stupid bitches” in her Instagram post. The overwhelming response has transformed the First Lady’s derogatory comment into a unifying symbol for those advocating against sexual violence and supporting women’s rights movements in France.