Singer Chappell Roan has deleted her ‘disgusting’ tribute to Brigitte Bardot, after the star died last week (December 28).
Hundreds of tributes from fans and stars alike have flooded social media following confirmation that the French actress and singer had died.
Born in Paris, Bardot was an aspiring ballet dancer.
She began her acting career in 1952, and the star became an international icon of sensuality after her breakthrough in And God Created Woman (1956).
It’s thought that her screen presence reshaped how female s**uality was portrayed in cinema.
After retiring from acting in 1973, Bardot became an outspoken animal activist. She established an animal welfare organization, the Foundation Brigitte Bardot, in 1986.
She died at the age of 91 on Sunday (December 28), announced by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation.
In a statement, they wrote: “The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announces with immense sadness the death of its founder and president, Madame Brigitte Bardot, a world-renowned actress and singer, who chose to abandon her prestigious career to dedicate her life and energy to animal welfare and her foundation.”
Hundreds of people have since paid tribute to the late star, including French President Emmanuel Macron.
“We are mourning a legend,” he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“Her films, her voice, her dazzling fame, her initials, her sorrows, her generous passion for animals… Brigitte Bardot embodied a life of freedom.”
The President added: “A French existence, a universal radiance. We mourn a legend of the century.”
Actress Lindsay Lohan also reshared a photo of the late actress with prayer and dove emojis in a show of respect.
Among those paying tribute to the 91-year-old was singer Chappell Roan, 27, who is openly queer and vocal about drag culture and liberal politics, despite her conservative upbringing.
People were not happy about Roan’s post remembering Bardot.
“Chappell Roan posting a story saying RIP to Brigitte Bardot is so disgusting and disappointing honestly,” one person tweeted.
Another added: “Chappell Roan praising Bardot… I’m disappointed.”
“It’s time to accept that Chappell Roan is faux-political,” a third insisted. “She’s not actually deep or informed, nor does she actually care.”
Meanwhile, others have leapt to Roan’s defence.
One person pointed out: “She literally just thought Bardot was hot. It’s not complicated. You only ever lusted after perfect souls? Chappell learned Bardot was an awful person and changed her perspective, what more do you want?”
A second commented: “Like I just thought she mentioned her in the song cause she was one of those old famous people, I didn’t think she admired her anything.”
Somebody else praised the singer, penning: “Good on Chappell for listening to fans, learning quickly, and correcting course. Accountability matters—separating the art/aesthetic from the harmful views.”
Roan has now removed the post, which originally read: “Rest in peace Ms. Bardot.
“She was my inspiration for Red Wine Supernova.”
‘Red Wine Supernova’ is the second track on the singer’s debut album, ‘The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.’
After receiving backlash from fans, Roan posted another story apologizing.
The singer said: “Holy s*** I did not know all that insane s*** Ms. Bardot stood for.
“Obvs I do not condone this. Very disappointing to learn.”
Bardot was caught up in many controversies during her time in the spotlight.
In 2018, at the height of the #MeToo movement, she said in an interview that most actors claiming that they had been s**ual harassed in the film industry were ‘hypocritical,’ as many played ‘the teases’ with producers to land parts.
She previously added that she had never been a victim, and thought it was ‘charming to be told that I was beautiful or that I had a nice little a**.’
Bardot also made numerous public statements criticizing immigration, Islam, and multiculturalism in France.
Although she denied being ‘racist,’ her rhetoric aligned closely with far-right ideologies for many years.
She formerly described her childhood as ‘difficult’ and noted that her father was a strict disciplinarian, who would sometimes punish her with a horse whip.
Bardot shared a son, Nicholas, with French actor and film producer Jacques Charrier, who passed away earlier this year.
She would be sued by her son in 1997 after she wrote in her autobiography that she would have preferred to have ‘give birth to a little dog.’
