Racial insults against Reunion: a fine of 25,000 euros is required against Brigitte Bardot
Don’t come close to slipping. Prosecutors requested a €25,000 fine Thursday against Brigitte Bardot during a hearing at the Saint-Denis court. To treat Réunions as indigenous “keep their wild genes” In a letter sent in 2019 to the governor of the island. A fine of 5,000 euros has also been imposed on Bruno Jacqueline, Brigitte Bardot’s press attache, who is being prosecuted for complicity in public insults. At the request of the employer, he sent the disputed letter to several media outlets, including AFP. Neither Brigitte Bardot nor Mr. Jacqueline attended the session.
The 85-year-old former actress, who created a foundation that bears her name and works to protect animals, sent an open letter in March 2019 to Amaury de Saint-Quentin, then the governor of Reunion. Brigitte Bardot claimed that she was “invaded by letters (…) denouncing the barbarism of the Réunions to animals”, and said that “the aborigines retained their savage genes”. She also compared Reunion Island to “Devil’s Island” with “a decadent population still imbued (…) with the barbarian traditions which are their roots”.
“When you’re smart, you think about what you write”
These criticisms caused outrage on the island. Annick Girardin, the Minister for Overseas Territories at the time, sent an open letter to the former actress. “Racism is not an opinion, it is a crime,” she recalls. Representative Jean-Hug Retinon (LFI), Licra, Mrap, SOS Racisme and the League for Human Rights and Hindu religious associations and groups have filed a complaint against the former actress. Brigitte Bardot has apologized to the Réunion family by justifying their outrage at what she sees as the “tragic fate” of the animals on the island.
“When you are smart, you think about what you write, it is stupid (…). It talks about memories of cannibalism, there are memories of colonial thought,” cried Master Axel Fardeen, lawyer for Jean-Hug Retignon and Hindu associations. “We’re in 2021, that’s enough,” he added. “Racial humiliation is unacceptable, whatever its context, coming more from someone using their notoriety to promote a cause,” said Attorney General Bringer Prudhomme. “Madame Bardot’s words are insulting and painful,” the judge added.
Defending Animals This is Brigitte Bardot’s life. Professor Catherine Moissonnier, the former actress’s lawyer and press officer, responded that animal distress was “a reality in Reunion”. Judgment has been booked and will be issued on November 4.
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