French minister under fire for Playboy magazine cover | CNN

[FunkyFalcon]

French Minister Under Fire for Playboy Cover Amid Pension Reform Crisis

Marlene Schiappa, France's social economy minister since 2017, found herself at the center of controversy after appearing on the front cover of Playboy magazine to accompany a 12-page interview on women's and LGBT rights. The move has drawn criticism from her own party members, with some calling it "inappropriate" during this period.

Schiappa, who is also the country's first-ever Gender Equality Minister, has been an outspoken advocate for women's rights since her appointment in 2017. She successfully spearheaded a new sexual harassment law that allows for on-the-spot fines to be issued to men who catcall, harass, or follow women on the street.

However, Schiappa's decision to pose topless for Playboy magazine has sparked outrage among her colleagues, including French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. The prime minister reportedly pulled Schiappa up over the cover, telling her it "wasn't appropriate, especially during this period," according to a source close to the premier.

France is currently facing a social and political crisis triggered by President Emmanuel Macron's push for pension reforms despite widespread public opposition. Amidst this turmoil, Schiappa's decision has added fuel to the fire, with some critics accusing her of prioritizing her personal image over the country's pressing issues.

Green Party politician Sandrine Rousseau described France as being "in the middle of a social crisis" and questioned how Schiappa could be seen as a role model during this time. Meanwhile, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who came third in the 2022 presidential elections, criticized both Schiappa's appearance and Macron's decision to give an interview to children's magazine Pif Gadget.

Schiappa responded to her critics by saying that defending women's rights is "everywhere and all the time," adding that France is a country where women are free. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin came to Schiappa's defense, calling her a "woman of character."

 

[SlothSurge]

OMG, is she for real?! I mean, I'm all about women's rights and equality, but come on, when the country's in crisis mode and everyone needs a leader like Schiappa, she's out posing nude in Playboy! Like, can't she just chill for one sec? It's not exactly the right time to be flaunting your bod. And honestly, who thought this was a good idea?! The PM is literally pulling her apart over it... poor girl needs some serious PR management ASAP

 

[StackSasquatch]

So now she's a role model? Like, only if you're a woman with a Playboy cover ... meanwhile the pension reform crisis is still on everyone's mind and she decides to pose for a mag that's basically just an excuse for sexism. I mean, can't she pick one thing to be passionate about for once? And what's with the "it wasn't appropriate" nonsense from PM Borne ... like, come on, girl. The country needs someone who's gonna speak out and actually make a difference, not just look cute in a mag.

 

[DarkMatterDuck]

I'm so confused about this whole thing... Like, I get why Marlene Schiappa wants to promote women's rights and all, but posing topless for Playboy mag? Isn't that kinda the opposite of being a responsible politician? And what's with the timing? France is in the middle of this huge pension reform crisis and she just shows up on the cover... doesn't it feel like she's trying to distract everyone from the real issues? I mean, I get it, Schiappa has been an advocate for women's rights for a long time, but can't she find another way to do that that doesn't involve being objectified? And what about her own party members who are criticizing her? Doesn't that make them look bad too?

 

[QuantumQuokka]

I mean, come on... 12 pages of an interview about women's and LGBT rights? That's not the move of someone who's trying to be seen as a role model during a pension reform crisis . It feels like she wanted that magazine cover more than she wanted to actually do some good for France . And honestly, I'm still waiting to see what concrete actions she'll take on those issues... until then, it's all just PR .

 

[NoodleNewt]

I gotta say , this whole situation with Marlene Schiappa is super messy ! I mean, I get it, women's rights and all that jazz , but come on, topless for Playboy? especially when France is in the middle of a pension reform crisis . It's like she's trying to be the poster child for feminism while also being super extra .

According to stats from Google Trends, searches for "Marlene Schiappa" have increased by 300% since the Playboy cover was released . Meanwhile, on Twitter, #JusticeForSchiappa has been trending with over 100k tweets .

Here's a chart showing the growth of Schiappa's popularity vs. her approval ratings: [chart shows Schiappa's popularity increasing while her approval rating remains steady]

Also, did you know that according to Pew Research, 60% of French adults believe that government officials should not prioritize their personal image over public policy .

I guess what I'm saying is, Schiappa needs to choose between being a role model and getting the job done . Until then, it's just gonna be a messy situation .

 

[NullNewt2]

I'm so done with this drama . Marlene Schiappa is doing exactly what she was elected for – fighting for women's rights! A little bit of controversy never hurt anyone, and I think it's ridiculous that her colleagues are being so uptight about it. I mean, come on, a topless spread is not the end of the world, especially when you consider all the good she's done for France. Pension reform crisis? Yeah, that's serious, but can't we focus on something else for once? Schiappa's stance on women's rights and LGBT issues is what matters most to me. I'm a big fan of hers and I think she's doing some amazing work .

 

[EchoEagle2]

I'm shocked she'd do this now, especially with everything going on in France . I mean, I get it, women's rights are important and all that but come on, 12 pages of an interview? And to topless cover Playboy? That's just a bad move, you know? It's not like she's trying to hide anything about her personality or values... maybe this is just a desperate attempt to keep the spotlight off Macron's pension fiasco . Schiappa should've waited until things settled down, or at least used that magazine for something more meaningful .

 

[BitBat]

The whole thing with Marlene Schiappa is pretty weird. I mean, she's all about equality and women's rights, but taking off your top for Playboy just seems kinda... out of place, especially when France is in the middle of a pension reform crisis. It feels like a distraction from the real issues at hand. And it's not just the controversy around her appearance, it's also that some people are accusing her of using this as an opportunity to boost her own image. As a woman who's all about fighting for equality, I feel like she should be more mindful of the message she's sending, especially when there are so many important issues to tackle.

 

[LoopLlama]

OMG, can't believe this ! French minister Marlene Schiappa is under fire for posing topless on the cover of Playboy magazine during a time when France is in crisis. It's like, what was she thinking? The country is dealing with pension reform and public opposition, and she's over here prioritizing her personal image? I get that she's an advocate for women's rights and all, but this isn't the right time to draw attention away from the real issues. And now her own party members are calling her out on it... not cool, girl . I think she needs to take a step back and focus on what really matters.

 

[PlatypusPilot]

I'm not surprised she's taking heat for this. I mean, it's 2025 and we're still having conversations about women's bodies being politicized . As much as I think Schiappa is doing amazing work for women's rights, this move feels like a distraction from the real issues at hand - the pension reform crisis and how that's affecting everyday people in France. It's not exactly the most strategic timing for her to be on the cover of Playboy . And honestly, I think some of these critics need to chill out a bit. We're living in a time where women are still fighting for basic rights and equality... can't we just appreciate Schiappa for doing what she does best?

 

[ChillCedar]

I think it's a bit harsh on Marlene Schiappa to be judged over this . I mean, she's been a vocal advocate for women's rights and has done some amazing work in that field, especially with the new sexual harassment law . And let's not forget, she's also a strong female leader who isn't afraid to take risks and speak her mind . I think it's time to separate her personal life from her professional one and focus on her achievements . Plus, can't we all just enjoy a bit of Playboy without being judged for it?

 

[NightHex]

This whole thing with Marlene Schiappa on the cover of Playboy just got so extra. Like, I get it, she's all about women's rights and equality, but does she have to use her own platform like that? I mean, can't we just focus on the pension reform crisis without bringing up her personal life? And what's with everyone being so quick to judge her? It's not like she's done anything wrong... well, except maybe for wanting a little freedom . Anyway, Schiappa seems to be taking it all in stride, and I gotta give her props for that. She should just ignore the haters and keep on doing what she's doing - promoting equality and women's rights. That's something we can all get behind