Chappell Roan Faces Backlash and Praise Over Brigitte Bardot Tribute
NEW YORK, N.Y. — Chappell Roan, the 27-year-old singer-songwriter known for her evocative pop anthems, found herself at the center of a heated cultural conversation following her recent tribute to Brigitte Bardot, the late French actress whose legacy is marred by decades of controversy. On December 29, Roan posted an Instagram story calling Bardot an “inspiration” and referencing the actress’s influence on her hit song “Red Wine Supernova.” The tribute ignited swift backlash from fans and critics who highlighted Bardot’s history of inflammatory remarks and associations with far-right politics.
Bardot, who died at 91, was celebrated in her heyday for roles in films like And God Created Woman and Contempt, embodying a sexually liberated icon of the 1960s. However, her later years were marked by repeated legal convictions in France for “inciting racial hatred,” particularly against Muslim communities, and outspoken opposition to LGBTQ+ rights and the #MeToo movement. Her marriage to Bernard d’Ormale, a former advisor to the far-right National Rally party, further complicated her public image.
Roan’s song “Red Wine Supernova,” released in 2023 and embraced as a queer anthem, opens with the line, “She was a playboy, Brigitte Bardot / She showed me things I didn’t know,” directly naming Bardot as a muse. Yet many fans expressed dismay that Roan had not acknowledged Bardot’s problematic history when praising her.
In response to the criticism, Roan took to Instagram again to admit her ignorance of Bardot’s controversial past. “Holy shit i did not know all that insane shit Ms. Bardot stood for,” she wrote. “Obvs I do not condone this. Very disappointing to learn.” This candid apology has since been met with a mixture of skepticism and support.
Some commentators argued that artists bear responsibility to research figures they elevate, with one social media user tweeting, “How the hell are you calling someone your ‘inspiration’ when you don’t know a single thing about their history?” Others urged a more forgiving stance, noting that many creatives draw inspiration from aesthetics and cultural touchstones without full knowledge of the backstory.
Supporters of Roan praised her willingness to publicly acknowledge her mistake and correct course, contrasting her response with other celebrities who have been criticized for deflecting or downplaying similar controversies. On a popular pop culture forum, one user with over 20,000 upvotes wrote, “People will still attack her for this but tbh I think she did the right thing here. She learned new info and corrected herself.”
The episode highlights ongoing tensions in the entertainment industry and broader society over how to engage with complex legacies. The U.S. Department of Justice emphasizes the importance of confronting hate speech and discrimination, reflecting a global reckoning with public figures whose contributions are shadowed by harmful beliefs.
As debates continue, Roan’s experience serves as a reminder of the challenges artists face in navigating historical context and cultural sensitivity in an era of heightened awareness. The Library of Congress archives countless cultural artifacts, underscoring how legacies can be multifaceted and contested.
Chappell Roan’s journey from unintentional tribute to public apology underscores the evolving relationship between art, history, and accountability. Whether this moment will redefine her connection to her audience remains to be seen, but it undeniably sparks important conversations about the responsibilities of creators and the complexities of inspiration.
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