Chappell Roan has backtracked after posting a tribute to French movie star Brigitte Bardot, explaining she was unaware of the late actress’ ‘insane’ past comments.
The Pink Pony Club hitmaker, 27, posted a tribute to Bardot after her death was announced on December 28, explaining the actress was the ‘inspiration’ behind her 2023 hit, Red Wine Supernova.
‘She was my inspiration for red wine supernova. Rest in peace Ms. Bardot,’ Chappell wrote to her Instagram Stories, before she was alerted by fans to Bardot’s controversial statements.
A day later, and Chappell has now explained she was unaware of the controversy surrounding the star, which includes Bardot describing gay people as ‘fairground freaks’ in her 2003 book, A Scream in the Silence.
Bardot – who quit acting to become an animal rights activist, which became her life’s work – was also convicted five times in her lifetime for inciting racial hatred.
In recent years, she spoke critically of the MeToo movement, saying in her final TV interview in 2025: ‘Feminism isn’t my thing… I like men.’
Having been flooded by comments from fans insisting Chappell take back her tribute, the US popstar said: ‘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.’
In Red Wine Supernova, Chappell sings in the opening line: ‘She was a playboy, Brigitte Bardot / She showed me things I didn’t know / She did it right there out on the deck / Put her canine teeth in the side of my neck.’
Born in 1934 in Paris, the actress shot to international fame with the 1956 film And God Created Woman, written and directed by her then-husband, Roger Vadim.
The film star and 1960s ‘sex symbol’ earned worldwide fame as one of the most recognisable faces of post-war cinema but later withdrew from the showbusiness world to devote her life to causes such as animal rights.
Known widely as BB because of her initials, pronounced bebe, the French word for baby, Bardot starred in dozens of movies, with Et Dieu Crea La Femme (And God Created Woman) often seen as the film that propelled her to international stardom.
It is believed that Bardot died weeks after undergoing surgery and battling a ‘sudden illness’.
She was said to be at her home in Saint-Tropez when she was suddenly rushed to a hospital in nearby Toulon.
The Brigitte Bardot Foundation said in a statement: ‘The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announces with immense sadness the passing 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.’
It added: ‘The Brigitte Bardot Foundation wishes to pay tribute to the memory of an exceptional woman who gave up everything for a world more respectful of animals.
‘Her legacy remains, living through the actions and battles that the foundation pursues with the same passion and the same loyalty to her ideals.’
Far-right French politician Marine Le Pen said in a social media post that Bardot was ‘incredibly French: free, untamable, whole’ and added: ‘She will be greatly missed by us.’
Bardot reportedly once referred to Le Pen as ‘the Joan of Arc of the 21st century’.
French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute and described her as ‘a legend of the century’.
Other stars to pay tribute to Bardot included Sharon Osbourne, Lindsay Lohan, Sofia Vergara, Paloma Faith, Nicola Peltz, and Christie Brinkley.
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