French Politician Who Championed Ban On Catcalling Set To Appear Scantily Clad On Cover Of Playboy

Marlene Schiappa, a French politician and the secretary of state in charge of the Social and Solidarity Economy, gained notoriety for leading the movement to outlaw catcalling and street harassment of women. However, Schiappa recently posed for Playboy in a low-cut white bodysuit, exposing her cleavage and spread legs. She will be featured in four photos and 12 pages of text where Schiappa, 40, will talk about feminism and women’s rights. Schiappa defended her decision to pose for the magazine in a tweet, stating that women should be able to control their bodies.

Ironically, under her anti-harassment law, men who catcall women can face immediate fines of up to $871. When the law passed in 2018, Schiappa emphasized that French law forbids “insulting, intimidating, threatening and following women in public spaces,” as reported by the New York Post.

The decision by Schiappa, who has two children, to pose for Playboy has been controversial among female leaders in France. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne told Schiappa that the decision was inappropriate, especially in the current period, as France has been witnessing a social crisis after President Emmanuel Macron raised the retirement age by two years. The move resulted in protests, and garbagemen went on strike for weeks.

One politician, Sandrine Rousseau, deputy to the National Assembly for Paris’s 9th constituency, criticized Schiappa’s decision, saying it was not appropriate and that there was a social context. Rousseau questioned why a lawmaker appearing scantily clad in a nudie magazine is the best approach to selling policy.

Although women’s rights and feminism are essential topics to discuss, appearing in Playboy magazine scantily dressed after advocating against catcalling appears hypocritical.

The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Joseph Curl has covered politics for 35 years, including 12 years as White House correspondent for a national newspaper. He was also the a.m. editor of the Drudge Report for four years. Send tips to [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @josephcurl.