Brigitte Bardot’s eventful life spanned a long and interesting period of European history, if in the end something of a sad one.
She was raised in traditional Catholic household with strict ad conservative parents, and went on to become a self-made international sex symbol. Indeed a strong contender for the most memorable and influential international sex symbol of them all, among a prestigious list of beauties, most notably those from the pop icon era of her heyday. She stood out amongst them all. She was consistent, effortlessly fit, naturally alluring, creative by personality, and aesthetically hip.
Of course her striking beauty and poise were not her only good qualities. Unlike many models and starlets, who become too hung up on maintaining their physique, Brigitte succeeded in having a child and passing on her patently eugenic French genes. And indeed her one and only son, although estranged, has his own children and even grandkids (who are apparently now Norwegian). Total natal victory. Of course we must also praise Brigitte’s notorious ‘controversial’ and ‘far right’ views, very much also to her credit, as highly honest and unusual for someone existing in the world of entertainment, famous of its fruitcakes and luvvies and bottomlessly liberal and needy thespian antics.
She was not at all phased and did not seem to care to hold her tongue. Some recent chat show comments she made included:
‘Feminism isn’t my thing, I like men.
‘But you can love men and be a feminist…’
‘No.’
Much to the enjoyably uncomfortable chagrin of the young liberal ladies interviewing her.
I first heard of her attitudes many years ago in an interview regarding her animal activism, in which she was railing against the Arab treatment of camels, horses, and dogs. Later she more openly lamented the Arab immigration-invasion of France. Unusual among people of her generation, for whom it would seem noticing the appalling and visceral downward slide of their culture proved too much to ask, let alone speaking out publicly against it. Not so for darling Brigitte. Despite this bravery, on the day of her death I watched a Bardot documentary, and ignoring all her comments to the contrary they spent most of the program framing her as a ‘feminist icon’. Reminding me that 90% of bio-docs made since 2010 seem required to manufacture a ‘cultural revolution’ lefty hero narrative. Which is to say that despite the subject’s actual views, if you are too big to cancel you they will merely rewrite you as agreeing with them, after you are gone.
‘I know it was to be expected, but I nearly had to shower after reading the Guardian comments section on Bridget Bardot. Endless weak males acting like she was the most evil person who ever lived and walked the earth. They are not only unhinged, they are hateful too. Well at least it gave them a break from hating on JK Rowling.’ – Thomas Sheridan
And thus I do find it a ultimately a bit sad, for our beautiful Brigitte to have lived through such momentous and artistically creative times, with such stark changes in technological progress since her birth in 1934, only to see the Europe she loved begin to wane and sicken. For her to die during such a period, not knowing as she expired will we break free and survive, or is there some hopeful thing yet to happen, to pierce the pall of decline?
As it is just exponentially that much more unfortunate to have to not only face your own death, but also die wondering is your whole civilization also doomed.