Brigitte Macron was caught insulting feminist protesters, calling them "wretched scoundrels," provoking a harsh reaction from activists and politicians.

Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, sparked controversy after she referred to a group of feminist protesters as "damned bastards" behind the scenes of a comedy show. The comment was made during a conversation with comedian Ary Abittan, who was concerned about possible interruptions from the activists. They were protesting against Abittan's return to the stage after he was accused of rape but not charged. Reactions to Brigitte's comments were vehement, coming from activists, politicians, and professionals in the film industry, who deemed her remark sexist and unacceptable. In contrast, some members of the far right argued that the comments were made in private. Macron's office stated that the remark should be interpreted as a criticism of the protesters' radical methods.