Chappell Roan deleted a tribute she shared to Brigitte Bardot after learning more about the late star’s past. Bardot passed away at age 91, with her foundation announcing the news earlier this week and confirming she died at her home in the south of France, though no exact date was given.
In a statement, the foundation said: “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.” The announcement led to a wave of tributes from fans and celebrities.
Roan was among those who posted, writing on social media: “Rest in peace Ms. Bardot. She was my inspiration for red wine supernova.” The singer has referenced Bardot in her song lyrics before, including lines that directly mention the French actress by name.
Less than a day later, Roan returned to social media and admitted she had not been aware of Bardot’s political views at the time of her post. She wrote: “I did not know all that insane s**t Ms. Bardot stood for obvs I do not condone this. very disappointing to learn,” and soon after removed the tribute entirely.
While Bardot was celebrated for her acting career and later work as an animal rights activist, her history included repeated controversy. She was convicted five times in France for inciting racial hatred and made statements that drew widespread criticism over the years.
In her 2003 book, Un Cris dans le Silence, Bardot described the LGBTQ+ community as ‘fairground freaks’. She also shared strong opinions about the #MeToo movement, dismissing many claims and speaking about her own experiences in the industry.
“Many actresses flirt with producers to get a role,” she told Paris Match. “Then when they tell the story afterwards, they say they have been harassed…in actual fact, rather than benefit them, it only harms them. I thought it was nice to be told that I was beautiful or that I had a pretty little a**. This kind of compliment is nice.”
Bardot’s death came just weeks after reports claimed she was seriously ill and hospitalized, which her representatives denied at the time. Her foundation responded by asking for privacy and reassurance, sharing a final message from Bardot that said: “I send my love to you all.”
