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French split over Brigitte Bardot tribute due to her far right views

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French split over Brigitte Bardot tribute due to her far right views


Paris —  French politicians were divided on Monday over how to pay tribute to the late Brigitte Bardot who, despite her screen legend, courted controversy — and convictions — in later life with her far-right views.

The film star died on Sunday at the age of 91 at home in the south of France. Media around the globe splashed iconic images of her and tributes following the announcement.

Bardot shot to fame in the 1956 film “And God Created Woman” and went on to appear in about 50 films, but turned her back on cinema in 1973 to throw herself into fighting for animal rights.

But her links to the far-right stirred controversy.

Bardot was convicted five times for hate speech, mostly about Muslims but also about the inhabitants of the French island of Reunion, whom she described as “savages.”

She died before dawn on Sunday morning with her fourth husband, Bernard d’Ormale, a former adviser to the far right, by her side.

“She whispered a word of love to him … and she was gone,” Bruno Jacquelin, a representative of her foundation for animals, told BFM television.

French President Emmanuel Macron hailed her as a “legend” of 20th century cinema who “embodied a life of freedom.”

Photographs, plush toys and flowers displayed on barriers at the entrance of “La Madrague” house, property of late Brigitte Bardot in Saint-Tropez, southeastern France on Dec. 29, 2025. The French film legend died at the age of 91 the day before.

MIGUEL MEDINA /AFP via Getty Images


Right-wing politicians laud Bardot

Far-right figures were among the first to mourn her.

Marine le Pen, whose National Rally party is riding high in polls, called her “incredibly French: free, untameable, whole.”

Bardot backed Le Pen for president in 2012 and 2017 and described her as a modern “Joan of Arc” she hoped could “save” France.

Conservative politician Eric Ciotti suggested a national farewell like the one organized for French rock legend Johnny Hallyday.

He launched an online petition that had garnered just over 7,000 signatures Monday.

France Obit Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot poses with a huge sombrero she brought back from Mexico, as she arrives at Orly Airport in Paris, France, on May 27, 1965.

AP


Left-wing politicians temper praise and some are sharply critical

But few left-wing politicians have spoken about Bardot’s passing.

“Brigitte Bardot was a towering figure, a symbol of freedom, rebellion, and passion,” Philippe Brun, a senior Socialist party deputy, told Europe 1 radio.

“We are sad she is gone,” he said, adding he did not oppose a national homage.

But he did hint at her controversial political views.

“As for her political commitments, there will be time enough — in the coming days and weeks — to talk about them,” he said.

Communist party leader Fabien Roussel called Bardot a divisive figure.

But “we all agree French cinema created BB and that she made it shine throughout the world,” he wrote on X.

Lawmaker Sandrine Rousseau, of the left-leaning Greens Party, was more critical.

“To be moved by the fate of dolphins but remain indifferent to the deaths of migrants in the Mediterranean — what level of cynicism is that?” she quipped on BlueSky.

Bardot’s remarks on her funeral raised some eyebrows  

Bardot said she wanted to be buried in her garden with a simple wooden cross above her grave — just like for her animals — and wanted to avoid “a crowd of idiots” at her funeral.

Such a burial is possible in France if local authorities grant permission.

Born on Sept. 28, 1934 in Paris, Bardot was raised in a well-off traditional Catholic household.

Married four times, she had one child, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, with her second husband, actor Jacques Charrier.

After quitting the cinema, Bardot withdrew to her home in Saint-Tropez to devote herself to animal rights.

Her calling apparently came when she encountered a goat on the set of her final film, “The Edifying and Joyous Story of Colinot.” To save it from being killed, she bought the animal and kept it in her hotel room.

“I’m very proud of the first chapter of my life,” she told AFP in a 2024 interview ahead of her 90th birthday.

“It gave me fame, and that fame allows me to protect animals — the only cause that truly matters to me.”



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China’s brain-control weapons race being led by Harvard scientist who was jailed in US

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China’s brain-control weapons race being led by Harvard scientist who was jailed in US


China’s brain-control weapons race being led by Harvard scientist who was jailed in US

A former Harvard scientist, who was convicted in America for lying to U.S. officials regarding payments from China, has rebuilt a high-profile brain-computer interface research lab in China.

The 67-year-old American scientist was found guilty of lying to officials about his ties with the Chinese state program to recruit overseas talent and spend two days in prison and six months under house arrest.

The scientist, Charles Lieber, a once-prominent nanoscience researcher at Harvard University, is now leading China’s state-backed i-BRAIN initiative in Shenzhen.

Lieber’s return to active research marks a dramatic turnaround for a figure once considered one of the world’s leading minds in nanoscale science.

In China, he now oversees work on brain-computer interface (BCI) systems technology designed to translate brain activity into digital commands that can control external devices such as robotic systems or computers. His work reignited global debate over how far advanced neurotechnology could go in the future of medicine and warfare.

According to the project’s description, the lab is developing non-invasive and advanced neural interface systems aimed at enabling communication between the human brain and machines.

The research is part of China’s broader push to become a global leader in next-generation neurotechnology.

China has already elevated brain-computer interfaces to a national strategic priority, with government-backed institutions investing heavily in the field and pushing for rapid commercialization.

Some trials in the country are exploring how BCIs could help patients with paralysis regain movement, while others examine broader human-machine interaction systems.

Lieber’s lab operates within the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation, where he has access to advanced nanofabrication tools and specialized research infrastructure. Chinese officials have positioned the facility as part of a wider effort to attract top global scientific talent into strategic technology sectors.

The development also comes amid growing U.S.-China competition over advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum systems, and neuroengineering. U.S. officials have previously warned that such technologies could have dual-use implications, spanning both civilian healthcare and military modernization.

Lieber has not publicly commented in detail on his new role, but has previously said his scientific goal is to advance cutting-edge research in brain interfaces and nanotechnology.





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Olivia Rodrigo teases exciting ‘SNL’ double duty episode with one twist

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Olivia Rodrigo teases exciting ‘SNL’ double duty episode with one twist


Olivia Rodrigo is set to appear on ‘Saturday Night Live’ ahead of her album release

Olivia Rodrigo gave fans the first glimpse into her Saturday Night Live appearance in the teaser for her double duty episode.

The 23-year-old pop superstar appeared in a Devil Wears Prada-esque sketch with the SNL cast members where she appeared to be caught up in a “glorified secretary” position like Anne Hathaway’s Andy Sachs.

SNL star James Austin Johnson took on Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly role as he lectured Rodrigo on her mistakenly calling SNL “skits” instead of “sketches.”

The drivers license hitmaker will be taking on the role of host for the first time and musical guest for the third time this Saturday, May 2.

Rodrigo will appear on the weekend show to promote her upcoming album, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, which will be released on June 12.

The Vampire songstress is believed to perform her latest release, Drop Dead, from the album, while some fans also speculate that she might debut an unreleased song during the episode.

While the SNL episode has sparked a lot of buzz, Rodrigo’s fans are also excited for the Unravel Tour ever since she made the announcement on social media.





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Stars of “Devil Wears Prada 2” give inside look at the highly anticipated film

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Stars of “Devil Wears Prada 2” give inside look at the highly anticipated film


Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci are reprising their iconic roles for “The Devil Wears Prada 2” 20 years after the original film was released. The stars speak to “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King and give an inside look at the movie.



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