French minister under fire for Playboy magazine cover | CNN

French Minister Under Fire for Playboy Magazine Cover Amid Nation's Social Crisis.

Marlene Schiappa, France's first-ever Gender Equality Minister since 2017, sparked controversy after appearing on the front cover of Playboy magazine to promote her interview on women's and LGBT rights. The incident has drawn criticism from some within her own party, including Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.

Schiappa, a vocal advocate for women's rights, was photographed wearing a white dress in a provocative pose on the magazine's March issue cover. She appeared in the 12-page interview to discuss various social issues, including policing and healthcare.

The appearance has been widely criticized by her colleagues, with French President Emmanuel Macron's move to push ahead with pension reforms despite public opposition seen as further evidence of the government's disconnect from citizens. Even Green Party politician Sandrine Rousseau was scathing in her criticism of Schiappa, stating that she felt like she was "behind a smoke screen".

Schiappa responded to her critics on Twitter, emphasizing her commitment to women's rights and denouncing what she called "detractors and hypocrites". However, not everyone has been quick to defend her. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, in an interview with CNews, described Schiappa as a "woman of character" but also acknowledged that his own style is different from hers.

This latest controversy comes at a time when France is grappling with deep-seated social and economic issues. The country's pension reform crisis has sparked widespread protests, and the government's handling of the situation has been widely criticized. With Schiappa's appearance on the cover of Playboy magazine adding to the sense of discontent among citizens, it remains to be seen how this will impact her own position within the government.

Schiappa's stance on women's rights and LGBT issues remains a key part of her platform, but her decision to appear in Playboy magazine has left many questioning whether she is out of touch with the concerns of the broader French public.

u know i was gonna say that schiappa is tryna be all things to all ppl, but honestly im not surprised. france is like the country where everyone's always talking about social issues and wanting change, but then they gotta sit down & have a convo about how they really feel. like schiappa, she's on this pedestal as gender equality minister, but does it even matter if ur in a mag that's all about sex? i mean im all for her cause, but can we pls not forget she's got a job to do too

I dunno man, it just seems like everyone's so worked up about Marlene Schiappa appearing on that Playboy cover... I mean, I get why some people might think it's not exactly what you'd expect from a Gender Equality Minister, but come on, she's still advocating for women's rights and all that jazz. It's like, can't we just chill? The whole thing just feels like another symptom of the bigger social crisis France is dealing with. And honestly, I kinda feel like this whole thing is being blown outta proportion... like, who doesn't already know about Schiappa's views on women's rights? It's just a mag cover, you know?

omg i feel like marlene schiappa was trying to do something super brave by being on that cover lol i mean it's not every day you see a politician on playboy but idk if it was worth it tho some ppl are saying she's just being attention-seeking and that's not cool. meh, as a feminist i think she has the right to express herself however she wants but at the same time i get why ppl are upset too her partymates dont seem to be supporting her which is kinda weird esp since they're all about equality and stuff. what do u guys think tho?

I gotta say, I'm a bit disappointed in Marlene Schiappa, you feel? As a Minister for Gender Equality, you're supposed to be leading by example, not taking risks that might alienate your own constituents . I get it, she's trying to promote women's rights and all that, but Playboy magazine isn't exactly the most progressive platform out there . It just comes across as a bit tone-deaf, you know? And with France facing so many serious social issues right now, like pension reform and protests everywhere, it feels like Schiappa is trying to take her mind off things by jumping onto this controversy bandwagon . I hope she can recover from this and stay focused on the real issues that matter to the French people .

I dont get it . Woman fights for equality & gets hit over the head by own party & public for being sexy . She's like, "Hey guys, I'm a feminist & here to help" – then she goes ahead & does the exact opposite of what people think that means . Not saying it was her best call, but can't we just have women who're smart & sexy at same time?

I'm not surprised that Marlene Schiappa's appearance on Playboy cover is causing drama . I mean, come on, it's not like she was trying to be provocative, but at the same time, is this really necessary? She's already got a platform as Gender Equality Minister, so what's the harm in keeping her focus on the issues that matter? And btw, I've seen her interview online and she seems super passionate about her work, but sometimes you just gotta wonder if being "on" all the time is gonna wear off on someone. Anyway, it's a mess now, but I think she's still got some solid points to make...

what's up wth marlene schiappa tho? one day ur championin women's rights & LGBT issues, & next u r on playboy mag cover doesnt make sense how can she be outta touch w/ french ppl w/ this move?

Wow! French politics can be so wild right now, it feels like everyone's trying to one-up each other and then gets caught off guard for what they've done... Interesting that Marlene Schiappa's commitment to women's rights is still being debated - I guess some people just don't want to listen or agree with her views.

I mean, what's the deal with Schiappa? She's all about feminism and equality, yet she decides to pose for a nude spread in Playboy . Is this really the best way to connect with the youth and promote her values? It just comes off as shallow and attention-seeking . And now, the Prime Minister is taking aim at her over this... I don't get it . Meanwhile, France is burning about pension reform and Schiappa's got a magazine cover to worry about . Can't she just focus on getting things done for the people?

I'm so done with all this controversy . Like, I get that Marlene Schiappa's trying to promote women's rights and all, but come on, Playboy? That's not exactly the vibe we're going for right now . And yeah, I can see how it might be seen as tone-deaf or even dismissive of some people's concerns. But at the same time, she is speaking out about important issues and that's gotta count for something .

I think what really gets me is that we're so focused on her appearance that we're forgetting what she's actually trying to say . We should be supporting her efforts to promote equality and justice, not tearing her down because of a magazine spread . And honestly, it feels like we're just distracting ourselves from the real issues facing France right now .

I mean, I'm all for self-expression and being true to oneself, but this is France, where we value la vie en rose and all that jazz. We need people in power who are going to listen to us and represent our values, not just be famous for being provocative . Let's keep the focus on what really matters here

omg, i dont get why marlene schiappa did that lol, like, yeah she's fighting for women's rights and all, but appearing on playboy cover just seems so...out of touch . and now everyone's all like "girl, what were you thinking?!" meanwhile, france is dealing with real issues like pension reform and public protests . schiappa's gotta own up to her decisions and explain why she thought this was a good move . maybe it was a mistake, but at least she's still passionate about her cause . let's not forget, she's got the power to make change happen in france

Wow she was totally fair game for criticism, considering the timing and the nature of the cover . I mean, come on, a nude photo shoot? It's not like she did it to be provocative or anything... interesting how everyone's suddenly talking about her "character" though . And can we talk about how weird it is that some people are defending her and others are trashing her over the same thing?

I think Marlene Schiappa got caught up in this controversy because she was trying to humanize herself and show her personality, you know? But, at the same time, it's a bit confusing - I mean, Playboy isn't exactly known for being all about women's rights. It feels like she took two steps forward (advocating for women's rights) and one step back (appearing on that cover). The thing is, as a government minister, you can't just be yourself 24/7 - sometimes you have to put on a hat and do what the job requires. But at the same time, politicians are human too, and they should be able to express themselves without fear of backlash. It's like, if she wanted to promote herself as a feminist icon, maybe she could've done that in a different way?

OMG , like Schiappa was totally not expecting this drama ! I mean, I get it, she's a strong advocate for women's rights and all that , but c'mon , Playboy mag? That's just too much . Can't she just stick to the day job and focus on making France a better place for everyone?

I feel her though , when people criticize her for trying to speak out on social issues, like policing and healthcare . She's just trying to make a difference , but sometimes you gotta ask yourself if it's all worth it .

Gérald Darmanin's response was pretty interesting , though. I mean, he did say she's a "woman of character" , which is nice and all, but what about his own style being different from hers? Shouldn't they just vibe with each other like, you know, teammates on the same team ?

Anywayz, this whole thing has me thinking ... Schiappa might be in for a rough ride ahead . Will she get her position back or will this be a major blow to her career? Time'll tell ...

Schiappa's move seems like a calculated risk to take attention away from France's real problems... while it might stir up some controversy, it's also kinda genius marketing. I mean who needs to fix pension reform when you can be on Playboy's cover? It's not about being out of touch, but about being in the right place at the right time. She's a master of self-promotion...

I dont get why politicians gotta be on the cover of racy mags just to make a point about women's rights lol . I mean, Marlene Schiappa's a strong advocate for equality and all, but come on, can't she promote her views without posing in a white dress like that? It's just too much, you feel? And now her own party is turning on her... this pension reform thingy has got everyone on edge already . I'm not sure if Schiappa was trying to provoke or just genuinely thought it'd be a good idea . Either way, it's gotta be tough for her right now

I don't get why Schiappa had to pose for that mag like it's going to make women's rights more legit or something... I mean, I know she's all about equality and stuff, but come on, she could've picked a different pic . And what's up with her colleagues being so harsh on her? Don't they trust her to do her job? Also, can we talk about the real issues France is dealing with right now, like the pension reform crisis? That's where the real controversy should be, not Schiappa posing for a mag .

I'm telling you, this is all part of their master plan... I mean, think about it. The government's been dealing with all these social crisis and pension reform issues, but now they're diverting attention to Marlene Schiappa's appearance on Playboy magazine? It's like they're trying to make her the scapegoat for everything that's going wrong in France And what's really interesting is how some of her own colleagues are criticizing her. I mean, come on, if she was really out of touch with the public, why did they let her take the cover? It's like they wanted us to see this and think, "Oh yeah, she must be crazy" And have you noticed how Gérald Darmanin is always talking about Schiappa being a "woman of character"? What's his motive for saying that? Is he trying to make her look good so we'll forget about the real issues at hand?

I gotta say, Marlene Schiappa's move to promote herself on that Playboy cover was super bold ... I mean, you can't deny it sparked a ton of attention & debate about her stance on women's rights & LGBT issues . As a fan of progressive politics, I'm all for pushing boundaries & challenging societal norms . But at the same time, I get why some folks are saying she came across as kinda tone-deaf ... I mean, with France dealing with so many serious issues like pension reform & protests, is promoting herself in a provocative mag really the best use of her time & energy? . Anyway, only time will tell how this affects her position in gov, but one thing's for sure: she's not gonna be quiet about it !