THIS is the moment the French first lady Brigitte Macron was caught on camera referring to anti-rape activists as “nasty b–es” and “masked thugs”.
The 72-year-old wife of President Emmanuel Macron has been slammed for directing the insulting words at radical feminist protesters, in a conversation with comedian Ary Abittan.
In a video that was published on the website of weekly magazine “Public”, the first lady can be seen backstage supporting the 51-year-old comedian who was accused of rape by a young woman he had been dating in 2021, after the pair had been together for around one month.
The case was dismissed following a three year investigation – a ruling that was upheld on appeal in January of this year.
Ms Macron was captured on film during a visit to the Folies Bergère theatre in Paris on Sunday, the day after four activists interrupted a show by the comedian.
In the footage, Abittan confessed “I’m scared” to the first lady, to which she replied: “If those nasty b—–s are here, we’re going to throw them out”.
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“It’s unbelievable … masked thugs,” she added.
She was referring to the Saturday protesters, who jumped out of the audience during Abittan’s show, while wearing masks and chanting “Abittan Rapist!”
The protesters – part of the feminist collective #AllofUs (#NousToutes) – were protesting the comedian’s return to stage, and are regularly stationed outside venues where he performs.
Ms Macron was attending the his show on Sunday with her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière.
She has since been slammed for her comments.
MP Sarah Legrain was among numerous public figures who criticised Ms Macron’s words.
“Brigitte Macron is insulting the feminists mobilized against the Folies Bergère,” she said.
“A dismissal of charges does not erase a woman’s words and injuries.”
A spokesman for Ms Macron said: “This exchange should only be seen as criticism of the radical methods used by those who, wearing masks, disrupted Ary Abittan’s show on Saturday evening to prevent the artist from performing. Brigitte Macron does not approve of these radical methods.”
The statement followed alleged online trolls going on trial, accused of describing Ms Macron as a “paedophile” who was “born a man”.
Seven defendants went on trial in October at the Paris Correctional Court over charges of cyber-bullying the French first lady.
The woman and six men could face up to two years behind bars if found guilty of cyber-bullying Ms Macron – the mother of three adult children from a previous marriage.
Vicious rumours claiming she was born a man have continually been spread online by conspiracy theorists and right-wing personalities, including American commentator Candace Owens.
Last March, Owens said she “would stake [her] entire professional reputation” on the claim that Ms Macron was born male.
When the Macrons filed for defamation in July, Ms Owens hit back, saying she would demand a medical exam as part of any trial in the USA.
The Paris trial verdict is expected next year.