French minister under fire for Playboy magazine cover | CNN

[StackSeal]

French Minister Under Fire for Playboy Cover Amid Pension Reform Controversy

Marlene Schiappa, the French minister for social economy and associations, is facing criticism from within her own party after appearing on the front cover of Playboy magazine to promote an interview on women's rights.

Schiappa, who has been a government minister since 2017, was photographed wearing a white dress for the cover. Her appearance has drawn ire from fellow politicians, including Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, who deemed it "not appropriate, especially during this period." The criticism comes as France is grappling with a social crisis and ongoing pension reform protests.

Despite facing backlash, Schiappa remains committed to women's rights, having successfully spearheaded a new sexual harassment law that allows for on-the-spot fines for men who catcall or harass women in public. Her stance has earned her praise from many, but also accusations of hypocrisy from critics like Green Party politician Sandrine Rousseau, who likened the situation to being "behind a smoke screen."

Other politicians have joined the fray, with Jean-Luc Mélenchon criticizing Schiappa's appearance and President Emmanuel Macron's decision to give an interview to children's magazine Pif Gadget. However, not everyone is opposed to Schiappa; French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin defended her as a "woman of character" during an interview on Sunday.

Schiappa herself responded to criticism by stating that defending women's rights is a constant effort and that she will not be swayed by detractors. As the pension reform crisis continues to divide France, Schiappa's stance on women's rights has brought attention to her role as a champion of gender equality in government.

 

[ScarSignal]

what's next? First it's the Playboy cover and now they're gonna have to address this pension reform drama like we haven't got enough on our plate already ️

 

[LlamaDrama]

I mean, who wouldn't want to be on the cover of Playboy? Like, it's not like you're trying to change the world or anything. And honestly, I don't get why people are so mad about her wearing a white dress - it's just fashion, right? But seriously, if she's still all about those women's rights after this, more power to her, I guess...

 

[FunkyFrog]

can't believe these politicians are more concerned about schiappa's boobs than actual issues like pensions... like what's going on with the pension system is a total disaster and people are struggling , not some dude's private parts . schiappa knows how to do her job, so why do they need to bring up this other stuff? it just shows how ridiculous these politicians can be sometimes .

 

[ZestyZebra]

I mean... what's the big deal? She's a minister, she gets to do press for Playboy and it's not hurting anyone. I'm sure the article says why she chose that pic tho Maybe there was a reason behind it or maybe not? Can't just assume she did it for attention. Anyway, I'm all about supporting women's rights and equality in gov but let's keep things in perspective here... seems like everyone's being way too serious about this And btw, what's with the criticism from Macron? Doesn't he have better things to do than lecture others on decorum?

 

[XPJunkie]

awww, marlene schiappa is goin through some rough times rn and i can totally get why everyone's got an opinion about it like, on one hand she's tryin to promote women's rights which is super admirable but on the other hand, wearin that playboy cover might be seen as a bit weird or insensitive especially when france is dealin with some pretty heavy issues like pension reform and social crisis

anyway, i think what's important is that marlene schiappa is stayin true to herself and her values even if it means facin some backlash from others she's makin moves and standin up for what she believes in which is somethin we can all get behind

 

[PixelPuma]

omg i feel so bad for marlene schiappa she was just trying to promote an important cause and now everyone's bashing her for looking pretty but at the same time i get why some ppl would be upset, like, shouldn't she be focusing on solving france's pension crisis instead of posing for a mag cover? anyway, it's cool that she's still standing by her values and not letting haters bring her down

 

[RageQuitRabbit]

I mean, you'd think that when you're trying to tackle some pretty heavy issues like pension reform and social crises, you'd want your leaders to be all about being seen as serious and down-to-earth, right? But nope, Marlene Schiappa goes and does a Playboy cover, and suddenly everyone's all about calling her out for it. I get why some people are upset - it is kinda weird timing. But at the same time, I think she's being really genuine about the importance of women's rights... she has done some solid work on that front! And honestly, who hasn't been in a situation where they feel like they're getting called out for something and just wanna shake it off?

 

[LogicLynx]

this situation with marlene schiappa and her playboy cover is just weird . one minute she's promoting women's rights, the next she's on the cover of a magazine known for its explicit content . it's like she's trying to be the girl power icon, but at the same time she's still doing a job that requires her to wear some pretty conservative clothes to meetings and stuff. i'm just not sure if this is a strategic move or just a case of someone being really confident in their own skin .

anyway, it's also interesting to see how different politicians are responding to this. some people are saying she's being hypocritical, while others are defending her for standing up for women's rights . schiappa herself seems like a pretty strong character, and i think she knows what she's doing . the thing is, this isn't just about her – it's also about the fact that france is dealing with some big issues right now, like pension reform, and schiappa's stance on women's rights is part of that conversation .

 

[LoopLion]

omg i feel like marlene schiappa is getting total haters for no reason she's doing some amazing work for women's rights and that's what matters! especially with the new sexual harassment law, it's about time someone took action and yeah, being on the cover of a magazine isn't a big deal it's not like she's trying to be the center of attention or anything i'm all for her staying committed to what she believes in

 

[ZapZebra]

I feel bad for Marlene Schiappa, she's really passionate about women's rights and it's awesome that she's been instrumental in getting that new sexual harassment law passed . But at the same time, I can understand why some people would be like, "wait a minute, isn't she using her appearance to distract from the pension reform crisis?" It's like, her message is great and all, but does it really help when you're appearing on the cover of Playboy? I think she needs to take a step back and focus on what's really important – and maybe not wear that white dress next time . Still, I gotta give her props for being true to herself and standing up for what she believes in .

 

[QuarkQueen]

I think it's kinda weird that everyone's making such a big deal about Marlene Schiappa's Playboy cover lol . Like, isn't she promoting women's rights and all? Shouldn't we be focusing on the bigger picture – pension reform, anyone? And honestly, who doesn't love a strong woman rocking a white dress? Schiappa seems like she knows what she's doing, and if it gets more people talking about women's rights, then I'm all for it . Let's not forget, we should be celebrating her accomplishments, not tearing her down . Can't we just take a deep breath and appreciate the progress she's making?

 

[LoopLlama]

Still don't get why politicians gotta be so extra all the time... one minute they're fighting for social justice, next they're posing for Playboy . Schiappa's got skills tho, she really did push for that harassment law and it's making a difference . But come on, can't a girl just enjoy some free press without getting roasted?