Brigitte Bardot slams Kurt Zouma over cat-kicking videos as ‘scandalised’ animal rights activist, 87, says ‘imbecile’ West Ham footballer should be dropped from the French national team and her foundation files legal action against him
- Bardot said she felt ‘scandalized’ when she saw videos of Zouma’s cruel abuse
- Paris-based charity the Brigitte Bardot Foundation has filed a legal complaint
- Speaking today, she said: ‘The images deeply scandalized me, this big guy who attacks a small cat… all of this is shocking and of absolute cowardice’
Brigitte Bardot says Kurt Zouma should be dropped from the French national team and contacted the country’s prosecutors demanding they take action against the cat-kicking footballer.
Miss Bardot, 87, a committed animal rights activist, said she felt ‘scandalised’ when she saw videos of Zouma mistreating the animal as the story made headlines in the UK and France.
The actress, who starred in 47 films including the classic And God Created Woman, felt moved to wade into the row to demand the West Ham centre-back faces justice over the video.
Her Paris-based charity the Brigitte Bardot Foundation has filed a legal complaint via French lawyers in a Paris court where he could face up to four years in jail, MailOnline has learned.
Speaking today, Miss Bardot said: ‘The images deeply scandalized me, this big guy who attacks a small cat, kicks the animal like a ball, under the laughter of the person who is filming, all of this is shocking and of absolute cowardice.
‘My Foundation is filing a complaint against him and has called on the leaders of the France team to no longer select this player who, by his imbecile behavior, soils his jersey.
Bardot, 87, a committed animal rights activist, said she felt ‘scandalized’ when she saw videos of Zouma’s cruel abuse as the story made headlines in the UK and France
The Snapchat video, captioned with ‘Sa commence’ showed Zouma kicking the cat across his kitchen floor
The actress, who starred in 47 films including the classic And God Created Woman, felt moved to wade into the row to demand the West Ham centre-back faces justice over the video
‘I also take this opportunity to thank the West Ham supporters who whistled Zouma during Tuesday’s match. Today I am worried about this player’s cats, it was not a fit of anger but mistreatment to amuse the public.
‘Posting this video on the networks is also the reason why Zouma must be punished, because if his act were not to be punished, he could then be imitated by other mindless people who, in turn, will want to make the buzz and outbid cruelty.
‘In this field, and particularly when it comes to mistreating an animal, man has an unlimited imagination.’
Her associate Christophe Marie, from the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, added: ‘All of us, including Brigitte, have been left shocked and disgusted by what we saw in the video.
‘The video is terribly graphic and we have asked the French Football Federation President Noel Le Graet and coach Didier Deschamps to suspend him immediately.
Miss Bardot , pictured in 1969, quit the movie industry in 1973 and now runs an animal sanctuary in the French Riviera resort of St Tropez
A separate clip also showed the West Ham defender slapping the cat out of a child’s hands
‘He should not take part in training and he should not play in the next match. We have filed legal action against him and we are calling for the highest possible punishment.
‘He should not be representing France when he has committed such a horrendous act, he should face a court of law and he should be made an example of.
‘What he did was completely unacceptable and Brigitte feels the same way, we are asking the British police to investigate and we have launched our own legal action.What he did was a terrible example to the youth.’
Mr Marie added: ‘Zouma is a French citizen and lives in England but the key point is the video was put on social media and has been seen by millions. Under French law he faces up to four years in prison and a fine of 50,000 Euros. We will be doing our utmost to make sure he is punished.’
Since retiring from acting Bardot has devoted herself to her Foundation which she set up in 1986 with money raised from selling off her jewellery.
The French FA has so far refused to respond publicly but a source said: ‘The matter is being discussed at the highest levels and a course of action is being discussed.’
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