Brigitte Bardot’s Death: French Influencer Doubled Down on Rumors Months Ago

The former actress and model, whose death was the subject of false rumors earlier this year, has now died at the age of 91.

Brigitte Bardot — a defining icon of French cinema and global pop culture — passed away on December 28, 2025, according to French media reports. Her death comes months after a controversial social media episode in which a French influencer prematurely claimed she had died, a claim Bardot herself publicly denied at the time.

Earlier this year, a French influencer known as Aqababe falsely announced Bardot’s death on X, insisting he had “exclusive information” despite no official confirmation. Bardot swiftly responded in a post written in French, dismissing the report and stating she was “fine” and had no intention of “bowing out.”

Although Aqababe later deleted his initial post, he doubled down on his claims, arguing that Bardot did not personally manage her X account. A representative for Bardot later confirmed to People that the actress had written the messages herself.

The online controversy followed reports from French outlet Var-Matin that Bardot had been hospitalized for several weeks earlier this year in Toulon, France, where she underwent minor surgery related to a serious illness. At the time, her representatives said she had returned home to Saint-Tropez and was resting.

Bardot had faced several health scares in recent years, including a widely reported incident in July 2023 when first responders were called to her home after she experienced breathing difficulties during extreme heat. Her husband, Bernard d’Ormale, later described the episode as non-life-threatening.

"It was around 9 a.m. when Brigitte had trouble breathing," d'Ormale told Var-matin, per the Los Angeles Times. "It was stronger than usual but she didn't lose consciousness… The firemen came and gave her oxygen and then stayed to monitor her."

"Like all people of a certain age, she can no longer stand the heat," he added, referring to Bardot's breathing issue as "a moment of respiratory distraction."

Born in 1934, Bardot rose to international fame in the 1950s and 1960s, becoming a symbol of sensuality and cinematic rebellion through films such as And God Created Woman. She retired from acting in the early 1970s, turning her focus almost entirely to animal rights activism.

After stepping away from the spotlight, Bardot lived a largely private life in Saint-Tropez, where she remained outspoken on animal welfare issues for decades. Her legacy endures not only through her film work, but also through her lasting cultural impact and advocacy.