😱 The eternal sex symbol who shocked the world, turned her back on Hollywood fame, and fought fiercely for animals… is gone forever.

But wait—her final farewell in Saint-Tropez was supposed to be quiet and simple, just like she wanted.

Yet hundreds flooded the streets, applause echoed through the Riviera, and a controversial far-right leader showed up at the church…

What really happened at Brigitte Bardot’s emotional goodbye? Who was there? And the heartbreaking details her husband just revealed about her secret cancer battle…

You won’t believe the drama unfolding in this iconic town. 👇 Full story inside – don’t scroll past this legend’s last chapter!

The French Riviera town of Saint-Tropez bid a poignant farewell to Brigitte Bardot on Wednesday, January 7, in a ceremony that honored the late icon’s wishes for simplicity while drawing hundreds of admirers to the streets.

Bardot, the legendary actress and animal rights activist who became a global sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s, died on December 28, 2025, at age 91. She passed away peacefully at her beloved villa, La Madrague, in Saint-Tropez, surrounded by her pets and husband of over three decades, Bernard d’Ormale.

The private funeral service took place at the Notre-Dame de l’Assomption Catholic Church, a historic spot in the heart of the coastal resort where Bardot had lived reclusively for decades after retiring from the silver screen. Following her explicit instructions for a no-frills event, the ceremony was kept intimate, attended by close family, friends, and select figures connected to her lifelong causes.

Among the attendees was far-right politician Marine Le Pen, a longtime admirer of Bardot, who had publicly supported the National Rally leader in the past. Le Pen’s presence highlighted the complex legacy of the star, whose later years were marked by outspoken conservative views and multiple convictions for inciting racial hatred through public statements.

Outside the church, the mood shifted to one of public tribute. Large screens broadcast the service across the town, allowing residents and fans to follow along. As Bardot’s coffin—adorned with vibrant orange and yellow flowers—was carried out and driven through the narrow cobblestone streets, crowds lined the routes, many applauding in a spontaneous show of respect. A black-and-white photo of Bardot embracing a baby seal, symbolizing her passionate animal advocacy, was displayed near the casket with the words “Merci Brigitte.”

The procession wound its way to the Marine Cemetery, a hillside site overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, where Bardot was laid to rest in the family vault beside her parents. The burial itself remained strictly private, in line with her desires for minimal ostentation.

In the days leading up to the funeral, d’Ormale opened up in an emotional interview with Paris Match magazine about his wife’s final months. He revealed that Bardot had been battling cancer, undergoing two operations in late 2025. Despite the treatments, she suffered severe back pain and had been hospitalized briefly before insisting on returning home to La Madrague.

“She wanted to die at home, surrounded by her animals,” d’Ormale recounted. He described staying by her side constantly, noting moments when her will to live wavered amid the pain. In her last hours, surrounded by their cats, she whispered their private nickname “Pioupiou” before passing peacefully in the early morning of December 28.

Born Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot on September 28, 1934, in Paris, she exploded onto the international scene with her role in the 1956 film “And God Created Woman,” directed by then-husband Roger Vadim. The movie, filmed in Saint-Tropez, catapulted the seaside village to fame and cemented Bardot’s image as the ultimate “sex kitten”—pouty lips, tousled blonde hair, and an unapologetic sensuality that challenged postwar conservative norms.

Bardot starred in over 45 films, often portraying free-spirited, hedonistic women who embodied the emerging sexual revolution. Hits like “Contempt” (1963) with Michel Piccolo and “Viva Maria!” (1965) alongside Jeanne Moreau solidified her status. She was photographed endlessly, inspired fashion trends like the bikini and the “Bardot neckline,” and even recorded music, with songs like “La Madrague” becoming classics.

At the peak of her fame in 1973, at just 39, Bardot abruptly retired from acting, declaring she was tired of being objectified. “I gave my beauty and my youth to men,” she once said. “I am going to give my wisdom and experience to animals.”

She founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals in 1986, pouring her energy—and much of her fortune—into campaigns against fur, seal hunting, and animal cruelty. Her foundation continues to operate worldwide, rescuing thousands of animals and advocating for stricter laws.

But Bardot’s post-Hollywood life wasn’t without controversy. She gravitated toward far-right politics, endorsing figures like Marine Le Pen and making inflammatory remarks about immigration, Islam, and multiculturalism that led to five convictions for “inciting racial hatred” between 1997 and 2008. Fines totaled thousands of euros, and her statements drew widespread criticism, even as supporters praised her for defending French culture and animal rights without filter.

French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute after her death, calling her “a legend of the century” and noting France was “mourning” her loss. Singers and celebrities echoed the sentiment, with Mireille Mathieu declaring, “Bardot is France.”

In Saint-Tropez, where Bardot had made her home since the 1950s, locals remembered her as more than a celebrity. She put the town on the map, turning it from a sleepy fishing village into a glamorous hotspot. Even in her later years, living reclusively and rarely appearing publicly, she remained a fixture—often seen walking her dogs or tending to stray animals.

The funeral’s public homage reflected that enduring bond. Despite her request for no fanfare, residents couldn’t resist lining the streets, some leaving flowers and photos at her future gravesite days earlier. “She wanted simplicity, but we wanted to say thank you,” one local told reporters.

As the coffin disappeared toward the cemetery, applause rippled through the crowds once more. Bardot, the woman who redefined femininity on screen and dedicated her life to the voiceless, was finally at rest overlooking the sea she loved.

Her foundation issued a statement vowing to carry on her work: “Brigitte Bardot gave everything for a world more respectful of animals. Her fight continues.”

Survivors include her husband Bernard d’Ormale, son Nicolas-Jacques Charrier from her marriage to actor Jacques Charrier, two granddaughters, and three great-grandchildren.

Saint-Tropez, and the world, has lost an irreplaceable icon—one whose beauty captivated generations, whose activism saved countless lives, and whose unfiltered voice sparked endless debate.