Nicole Kidman‘s tense interraction with Salma Hayek at Paris Fashion Week could spell trouble for her big money deal with Balenciaga.
Nicole and Salma were involved in what appeared to be a red carpet row at the Balenciaga show last month that saw the Australian actress walk off.
Nicole and Salma were stood in front of photographers with Katy Perry when a fiery altercation took place, apparently over Salma touching the Australian star when they were asked to pose together.
Footage of the incident two weeks ago emerged online on Sunday, and has sparked a social media frenzy over who was in the wrong.
And now, some online commentators have suggested Nicole’s brand ambassador deal with Balenciaga could be at risk, as Salma’s billionaire husband François-Henri Pinault, who she married in 2009, owns the luxury brand.
Nicole Kidman ‘s tense interraction with Salma Hayek at Paris Fashion Week could damage her brand ambassador deal with Balenciaga. Salma’s husband François-Henri Pinault is CEO if 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 red carpet row at the Balenciaga show during Paris Fashion Week that saw the Australian actress walk off
French businessman Pinault is the CEO of Kering, a business established by his father who made his name in the timber trade before snapping up 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, took over the role of CEO of Kering from his father.
Nicole meanwhile was named brand ambassador for Balenciaga in December 2023.
Writer and fashion commentator Louis Pisano wrote on Twitter: ‘oh that “don’t touch me” from Nicole to Salma at a brand show owned by her husband, that Balenciaga contract is in danger I fear.’
Others suggested Salma was in her role as the boss’ wife when she tried to guide Nicole for the photographs, with one tweeting:
‘Nicole is an employee of Salma’s husband so yes, Salma gets to boss her around. Besides, 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 through some of the most memorable events in my life, from my wedding to the Oscars red carpet,’ adding that she looks forward to ‘creating 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 brand ambassador for Balenciaga in December 2023
Writer and fashion commentator Louis Pisano wrote on Twitter: ‘That Balenciaga contract is in danger I fear’
Others suggested Salma was in her role as the boss’ wife when she tried to guide Nicole for the photographs
In 2022, the Spanish brand caused a major controversy on social media when it used images of children holding teddy bears dressed in bondage gear in its Christmas campaign.
Nicole’s continued involvement with the brand has attracted criticism in the two years since the scandal, whilst Salma’s silence on the scandal also saw her slammed.
Balenciaga issued a statement at the time apologising for the campaign, stating: ‘We sincerely apologise for any offence our holiday campaign may have caused.’
‘Our plush bear bags should not have been featured with children in this campaign. We have immediately removed the campaign from all platforms.
‘We strongly condemn abuse of children in any form. We stand for children safety and well-being.’
Fans have been left split over the Fashion Week incident between Salma and Nicole. One said online: ‘Why is Nicole being so rude?’
One witness claimed that Nicole told Salma: ‘Don’t touch me’. The onlooker also claimed that Ms Perry had appeared ’embarrassed’.
But another on Reddit said: ‘I get that Salma was probably trying to direct her to pose for the cameras, but some people don’t like to be touched regardless of the situation, and you just gotta respect that’.
The event took place last month and it was the first time Kidman had been seen since the death of her mother Janelle.
The Australian actress was forced to leave Venice Film Festival to return to her native Sydney to be with her family after the devastating news.