Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, attended a Louis Vuitton fashion show in Paris as high school students staged protests across the capital.
Video footage of the French first lady at the event was published on Instagram by the magazine Paris Match, where it accumulated 1.5 million views.
Macron arrived at the fashion presentation wearing a gray suit consisting of a jacket and trousers, paired with pointed shoes. She selected a massive diamond necklace and rings as jewelry. During the show, the first lady met with actress Zendaya and rapper Pharrell Williams, who serves as the creative director for the brand.
The video posted by the magazine prompted widespread criticism from social media users who expressed dissatisfaction with Macron attending the luxury event. Commentators remarked that France was in total chaos while the first lady attended a fashion show, contrasting the entertainment of the elite with students demanding normal learning conditions. Other viewers stated that she should have met with protesting students and suggested that the problems facing young people did not concern her while Paris streets burned.
Student Demonstrations in Paris
The online criticism followed demonstrations on October 6, when protesting French high school students gathered on the main streets of Paris. The action was initially peaceful, but participants later began committing acts of vandalism and causing damage.
The dissatisfaction among the young protesters stems from a shortage of teachers and the poor physical condition of school buildings resulting from a lack of public funding.
Luxury Event Amid Unrest
Louis Vuitton is a premier French luxury fashion house known globally for high-end leather goods and clothing. Pharrell Williams, an American recording artist and music producer, serves as the menswear creative director for the luxury brand, while American actress Zendaya is a prominent figure in global fashion and entertainment.
Brigitte Macron, a former schoolteacher, married Emmanuel Macron before his election as President of France in 2017. As first lady, she regularly attends cultural, philanthropic, and high-fashion events in Paris, which is widely recognized as a global fashion center. Paris Match, a major French weekly magazine, frequently covers the public engagements of French political figures and international celebrities.
