It was bound to happen, following the staggering remarks made by First Lady Brigitte Macron about feminist activists. Described as “dirty bitches” by the wife of the President of the Republic, the women concerned have decided to take legal action.
The incident dates back to 7 December 2025, when feminist activists wearing masks stormed the Folies Bergère theater in Paris to disrupt a performance by comedian Ary Abittan.
The latter had been accused of rape in 2021, a long legal ordeal that ultimately ended with two dismissals of the case. Brigitte Macron, who was attending the show, reportedly let slip the comment that would later explode like a bombshell.
In a chain of events worthy of a bad crime novel, the agency that recorded the exchange between Mrs. Macron and Abittan resold the video to another agency without watching it. The buyer, in turn, did not see fit to censor the explosive content of the footage. Was this done to capitalize on the ensuing outrage, or did the agency act in “good faith” by publishing the exchange without reviewing it, as collaborators of Mimi Marchand have claimed in similar situations? The question remains unanswered.
What is certain, however, is that the feminist association Les Tricoteuses hystériques has taken legal action against the First Lady. “This complaint has been filed on behalf of 343 women and organizations who collectively and individually declare themselves harmed by these remarks.
It has been initiated and carried by Les Tricoteuses hystériques, under the leadership of their president, Vigdis Morisse Herrera, with the participation of two other feminist organizations as co-complainants, 3égales3 and MeTooMedia,” the association—founded after the Mazan trials—said in a statement.
“The choice of 343 complainants is a symbolic and political one, a direct reference to the Manifesto of the 343 published in 1971,” the group added, stressing that “more than fifty years later, women who engage in activism continue to be exposed to insult and delegitimization.”
The First Lady did not address the incident with the four activists from the feminist collective #NousToutes until yesterday, Monday 15 December, during an interview with Brut. Seven days too late—a full week during which the controversy continued to escalate. She should have spoken out sooner to contain the fallout.
Mrs. Macron argued that the video “was absolutely not intended to be made public” and said she “did not realize that someone behind me was filming (…) I am sorry if I hurt women victims; they are the only ones I am thinking about,” she stated, while insisting that she “cannot stand having a performance interrupted.”
“In any case, I believe we have the right to speak and the right to think. I am not always the wife of the President of the Republic; I also have a private life, and that moment was a private moment,” she asserted.
Clearly, then, there is no question of issuing a public apology. This hard line appears to have deeply angered feminist groups and helps explain the legal action. That said, there is little chance that the First Lady will be convicted; the complainants are primarily using the negative publicity surrounding her to draw attention to their cause. In a way, Mrs. Macron’s misstep has become a communications tool for their campaign.
Moreover, following the blunder by Bestimage, an agency specializing in celebrity news, many female public figures have chosen to leverage this media exposure to advance the feminist cause and the fight against sexist and sexual violence. “The ‘dirty bitches’ from associations like Nous Toutes do more work than your husband, Brigitte (…) We won’t forget, Brigitte,” the activist group retorted.
It is worth recalling that during his first presidential campaign, Emmanuel Macron had made this issue the flagship cause of his five-year term. In France, according to figures from #NousToutes, some 210,000 rapes or attempted rapes are committed each year. As of 4 December 2025, the collective had recorded 156 femicides since the beginning of the year—15 more than in 2024—on top of those counted at the end of the month.
Behind this media clash between Mrs. Macron and feminist activists, therefore, lies a very dark and troubling reality.
What's happening in Tunisia?
Subscribe to our Youtube channel for updates.
