Nicole Kidman’s tense interaction with Salma Hayek at Paris Fashion Week could spell trouble for her major deal with Balenciaga.
Nicole and Salma were involved in what appeared to be a fight on the red carpet at the balenciaga show last month that saw the Australian actress walk away.
Nicole and Salma were in front of photographers with Katy Perry when an intense altercation broke out, apparently because Salma touched the Australian star when they were asked to pose together.
Footage of the incident two weeks ago appeared online on Sunday and sparked a social media frenzy over who was wrong.
And now, some online commentators have suggested that Nicole’s brand ambassador deal with Balenciaga could be at risk, as Salma’s billionaire husband François-Henri Pinault, whom she married in 2009, owns the brand deluxe.
Nicole Kidman’s tense interaction with Salma Hayek at Paris Fashion Week could damage her brand ambassador deal with Balenciaga. Salma’s husband, François-Henri Pinault, is the CEO of the brand’s parent company. Salma, Francois and Nicole are pictured at the show last month.
Nicole and Salma were involved in what appeared to be a fight on the red carpet at the Balenciaga show during Paris Fashion Week, in which the Australian actress walked out.
French businessman Pinault is the CEO of Kering, a company founded by his father that made a name for itself in the timber trade before taking a 42 percent stake in the Gucci Group in 1999.
The luxury goods company today owns Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta and Alexander McQueen. In 2005, Pinault, then 40, replaced his father as CEO of Kering.
Meanwhile, Nicole was named Balenciaga brand ambassador in December 2023.
Writer and fashion commentator Louis Pisano wrote on Twitter: “Oh, that ‘don’t touch me’ from Nicole to Salma at a show for the brand owned by her husband, I’m afraid Balenciaga’s contract is in jeopardy.”
Others suggested that Salma was in her role as the boss’s wife when she tried to guide Nicole for the photos, with one tweeting:
‘Nicole is an employee of Salma’s husband, so yes, Salma can boss her around. Plus, Nicole is there working for Salma’s husband.
Nicole, who is an ambassador alongside the likes of Kim Kardashan and Isabelle Hubbert, gushed at the time of her appointment: “Balenciaga has been with me at some of the most memorable events of my life, from my wedding to the Oscars red carpet. ,’ adding that he hopes to ‘create more memories together.’
French businessman Pinault is the CEO of Kerring, which owns Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta and Alexander McQueen.
Nicole was named Balenciaga brand ambassador in December 2023
Writer and fashion commentator Louis Pisano wrote on Twitter: “I’m afraid that contract with Balenciaga is in danger.”
Others suggested that Salma was in her role as the boss’s wife when she tried to guide Nicole through the photographs.
In 2022, the Spanish brand caused a huge controversy on social media when it used images of children holding teddy bears dressed in bondage clothing in its Christmas campaign.
Nicole’s continued involvement with the brand has drawn criticism in the two years since the scandal, while Salma’s silence over the scandal has also drawn her criticism.
Balenciaga issued a statement at the time apologizing for the campaign, stating: “We sincerely apologize for any offense our Christmas campaign may have caused.”
‘Our bags with teddy bears should not have appeared alongside children in this campaign. We immediately removed the campaign from all platforms.
‘We strongly condemn the abuse of children in any form. We defend the safety and well-being of children.’
Fans were left divided by the Fashion Week incident between Salma and Nicole. One said online: ‘Why is Nicole being so rude?’
A witness claimed that Nicole told Salma: “Don’t touch me.” The viewer also claimed that Ms Perry looked “embarrassed”.
But another on Reddit said: “I understand that Salma was probably trying to instruct him to pose for the cameras, but some people don’t like to be touched no matter the situation, and you have to respect that.”
The event took place last month and was the first time Kidman was seen since the death of her mother Janelle.
Kidman announced her mother’s death just hours before receiving the Best Actress award for her role in Babygirl at the Venice Film Festival.
The Australian actress was forced to leave the Venice Film Festival to return to her native Sydney to be with her family following the devastating news.