A handwritten letter penned by French screen legend Brigitte Bardot shortly before her death, in which she accused her husband Bernard d'Ormale of destroying her over three decades, has been revealed amid a dispute over her will.
In the letter, dated November 17, 2022, Bardot writes to d'Ormale, "Bernard, it's a failure." She expresses a need for a companion who would offer love and support, stating, "For 30 years, you have patiently destroyed me, day after day." Bardot also laments her inability to find solace, tenderness, or presence from him, concluding, "I am in such desperate need of a shoulder to lean on, of support, of tenderness, of a presence – things you are simply incapable of giving me. Checkmate!"
Bardot, who died at 91 in December, disinherited d'Ormale, leaving him nothing despite their over 30-year relationship. D'Ormale, 85, was reportedly living with Bardot at their St. Tropez home until last year. He has since been evicted and is now residing in a public housing flat in St. Tropez.
Following Bardot's death, d'Ormale expressed anger over an auction of her personal possessions, which included items such as her signature straw hats, a black tutu, and ballet shoes. Initially, d'Ormale claimed he had voluntarily refused any inheritance to avoid accusations of taking advantage of Bardot. However, he later voiced sadness at being forced to leave their shared home, La Madrague.
D'Ormale was also removed as president of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, an animal charity established by the actress. Allegations have surfaced suggesting that d'Ormale's past role as an advisor to Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the far-Right National Front and a figure known for controversial views, contributed to friction within the foundation.
Bardot's estate is slated to be distributed to the Brigitte Bardot Foundation and her son, Nicholas Charrier. Lawyers representing d'Ormale have stated he was treated "deplorably" by the foundation and questioned the "aggression towards a man who shared 33 years of his life with Madame Bardot."
A spokesperson for the Brigitte Bardot Foundation countered these claims, stating that d'Ormale was well-supported after Bardot's passing and that his refusal to leave La Madrague, which Bardot had donated to the foundation in 1992, is a matter of legal obligation.
Bardot and d'Ormale's marriage in Norway in 1992 lacked legal validity in France. Beyond her film career, Bardot was also a singer and retired from public life in 1973. Her political views and affiliations with the National Front, which has since been renamed the National Rally, led to several convictions for inciting racial hatred.