Rising pop star Chappell Roan has swiftly deleted and apologised for a social media tribute she paid to the late French icon Brigitte Bardot, after a swift and fierce backlash from fans who highlighted Bardot's multiple criminal convictions for inciting racial hatred.
Fan Fury Over a Problematic Icon
The controversy erupted on Sunday, shortly after the announcement of Bardot's death at age 91. Roan, 27, posted to her Instagram Stories, describing the actress and singer as the 'inspiration' behind her 2023 track 'Red Wine Supernova'. Her message, which read 'She was my inspiration for red wine supernova. Rest in peace Ms. Bardot,' was intended as a simple homage.
However, followers immediately flooded the comments section of her posts, urging her to take down the tribute. They pointed out that despite Bardot's glamorous 'Sex Kitten' image, she was a 'well-known bigot' with a deeply troubling history of bigoted remarks and legal sanctions.
A Legacy of Legal Convictions and Hate Speech
Brigitte Bardot, who shot to fame in the 1956 film 'And God Created Woman', was convicted five times by French courts for inciting racial hatred. Her targets frequently included Muslims over halal slaughter practices and Jewish communities regarding kosher food preparation.
In her 2021 book, she also made homophobic comments, describing gay people as 'fairground freaks'. More recently, in 2021, she was fined 20,000 euros (approximately £17,000) for a racist 2019 letter in which she described inhabitants of the French overseas territory La Reunion as 'degenerate savages'. Didier Robert, President of the Reunion region, condemned her words as 'irresponsible, outrageous and contemptuous'.
Roan's Swift Apology and Retraction
Confronted with this information, Chappell Roan acted quickly. She removed the original post and issued a public statement expressing her shock and disappointment. 'Holy s**t i did not know all that insane s**t Ms. Bardot stood for obvs I do not condone this,' she wrote. 'very disappointing to learn.'
Her song 'Red Wine Supernova' directly references Bardot in its opening lyrics: 'She was a playboy, Brigitte Bardot/She showed me things I didn't know.' Roan's initial tribute was purely artistic, acknowledging the inspiration behind the music, but she made clear she was wholly unaware of the figure's controversial legacy.
The incident highlights the power of fan engagement and the speed at which historical context can reshape public tributes in the digital age. For Roan, a moment of artistic appreciation became a rapid lesson in the complex and often dark histories of cultural icons.
