Marlene Schiappa, the French Minister for Social Economy and Associations, has found herself at the center of controversy after appearing on the front cover of Playboy magazine. The 48-year-old politician, who has been in office since 2017, was photographed wearing a white dress to accompany a 12-page interview on women's and LGBT rights.
Schiappa's appearance on the cover has drawn criticism from some members of her own party, including French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. Borne pulled Schiappa aside and told her that the cover was "not appropriate," especially during this period, according to a source close to the prime minister.
Despite the backlash, Schiappa remains a strong advocate for women's rights and has been instrumental in pushing through several significant reforms, including the introduction of a new law that allows for on-the-spot fines to be issued to men who catcall or harass women on the street. This law was seen as a major victory for feminist activists and was passed after Schiappa spearheaded its introduction.
However, her decision to appear on the cover of Playboy has raised questions about her judgment and whether she is out of touch with some parts of French society. The controversy has also added to the growing sense of instability in France, where President Emmanuel Macron's plans for pension reform are sparking widespread protests and strikes.
French politicians such as Jean-Luc Mélenchon have seized on Schiappa's appearance as evidence that Macron's government is "going off the rails" and lacks credibility. Mélenchon criticized both Schiappa's appearance and Macron's decision to give an interview to a children's magazine, Pif Gadget.
Schiappa has responded to her critics by saying that she will continue to fight for women's rights and that she will not be intimidated by those who try to undermine her. Her defense from Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has also added weight to her argument, with Darmanin calling Schiappa a "courageous female politician" who is not afraid to express herself.
Despite the controversy, Schiappa remains a key figure in Macron's government and will likely continue to play an important role in shaping France's policy agenda on women's rights.
Schiappa's appearance on the cover has drawn criticism from some members of her own party, including French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. Borne pulled Schiappa aside and told her that the cover was "not appropriate," especially during this period, according to a source close to the prime minister.
Despite the backlash, Schiappa remains a strong advocate for women's rights and has been instrumental in pushing through several significant reforms, including the introduction of a new law that allows for on-the-spot fines to be issued to men who catcall or harass women on the street. This law was seen as a major victory for feminist activists and was passed after Schiappa spearheaded its introduction.
However, her decision to appear on the cover of Playboy has raised questions about her judgment and whether she is out of touch with some parts of French society. The controversy has also added to the growing sense of instability in France, where President Emmanuel Macron's plans for pension reform are sparking widespread protests and strikes.
French politicians such as Jean-Luc Mélenchon have seized on Schiappa's appearance as evidence that Macron's government is "going off the rails" and lacks credibility. Mélenchon criticized both Schiappa's appearance and Macron's decision to give an interview to a children's magazine, Pif Gadget.
Schiappa has responded to her critics by saying that she will continue to fight for women's rights and that she will not be intimidated by those who try to undermine her. Her defense from Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has also added weight to her argument, with Darmanin calling Schiappa a "courageous female politician" who is not afraid to express herself.
Despite the controversy, Schiappa remains a key figure in Macron's government and will likely continue to play an important role in shaping France's policy agenda on women's rights.
she's like "hey i'm a strong feminist politician who ain't afraid to get sexy for the cameras" 
and honestly, more power to her! people can criticize her all they want but at the end of the day, she's still pushing for some pretty important reforms that are actually making a difference in france 
meanwhile, other politicians are over here whining about pension reform and child magazines 
they're just mad because schiappa's stealing the spotlight and bringing attention to the issues she cares about 
. I mean, Marlene Schiappa is all about fighting for women's rights and making a difference in France, so you'd think they'd be more on board with her being confident and expressing herself 
. But I guess some people just can't handle the fact that she's not afraid to show off 
. And honestly, if anyone's out of touch with French society, it's those who are criticizing Schiappa for being too bold or trying too hard 
and not make a big deal out of her appearance? 
also, why are people surprised that she was on playboy? its 2025, lol 
i think shes kind of cool for speaking her mind and fighting for women's rights 
. i get it, she's a strong advocate for women's rights, but does playing with your clothes for Playboy really send the right message? 
I love how Interior Minister Darmanin is defending her, though. That's the kind of solidarity we need from our leaders 
. On one hand, I think Marlene Schiappa is a total boss for sticking it out and being unapologetic about her fashion choices 
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, but in the best way possible 
]
[GIF of a woman in a white dress walking away from a catcaller, with the sound effect of a "no" from a crowd]
[Image of Schiappa's outfit on the cover of Playboy, with a red X marked through it and a speech bubble saying "not my style"]
]
. It's about time we see more female leaders in positions of power who aren't afraid to show their personality. Schiappa's been making waves with the feminist law, so it feels like some people are just mad 'cause they can't touch her 
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Remember that time [insert infamous example here]? 
But hey, I still got love for this girl! 
, and those reforms she pushed through were huge 
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. We need more leaders like her who aren't afraid to speak their minds 
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. But you know what? I think she's still doing an amazing job for women's rights and all the changes she's brought about 
. The law about catcalling on the street is super important and it's awesome that she pushed for it 
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. schiappa is all about empowering women and fighting for their rights, and that's something to be admired 
. she might've made some enemies but i think she's just fine