“Barbie” Outdoor Screening Canceled in Noisy-le-Sec Following Threats
Public Film Event Halted After Intimidation from Small Group
A planned outdoor showing of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie in Noisy-le-Sec, a suburb northeast of Paris in the Seine-Saint-Denis department, was abruptly canceled after a small group of young individuals issued verbal threats to event organizers. The free screening was scheduled for Friday, August 15 at 9 p.m. as part of the local summer event “Les Estivales de Noisy,” held in the Londeau neighborhood.
According to Mayor Olivier Sarrabeyrouse, affiliated with the French Communist Party, around 10 to 15 individuals confronted municipal staff during the setup process. They issued a direct warning: “If you go ahead with this, we’ll tear everything down and stop the screening.” The opposition group accused the film of promoting “homosexuality” and disrespecting “the integrity of women.”
Mayor Sarrabeyrouse denounced the pushback, calling it a dangerous mix of ideological manipulation and ignorance. He highlighted that those opposing the film most likely hadn’t even seen it, noting that Barbie actually critiques patriarchal norms through a largely heteronormative narrative. He described the objections as rooted in irrational and regressive thinking.
Municipal and National Action in Support of Artistic Freedom
The screening’s selection was based on community input, primarily from residents of the Londeau area—something Sarrabeyrouse emphasized in his response to the incident. “This is nothing short of moral censorship,” the mayor wrote in a Facebook post. The city has since filed a formal complaint citing threats made against public employees and obstruction of municipal functions. The mayor also labeled the individuals responsible as “thugs” acting with politically driven motives.
National authorities responded swiftly, with the Ministry of Culture filing a separate complaint for “obstruction of creative and artistic freedom.” Culture Minister Rachida Dati (Les Républicains) condemned the incident, describing it as a “dangerous attack on cultural programming, robbing children and families of a shared creative experience.” She emphasized the government’s commitment to defending free artistic expression against ideological coercion, which she characterized as a growing form of modern delinquency.
Unified Political Response Highlights Cultural Tensions
The cancellation sparked strong reactions across the political spectrum. From the left, Aurélie Trouvé, MP for La France Insoumise–Nouveau Front Populaire, expressed deep concern. “Time and again, families and young people are losing opportunities for cultural enrichment and social connection,” she said. “I stand in solidarity with the mayor and municipal workers who faced threats. Culture should empower, unite, and open minds.”
Meanwhile, on the right, Republican Senator Valérie Boyer attributed the disruption to the expanding influence of religious fundamentalism. She alleged that “Islamist extremists are now exerting real and effective social control,” and criticized the mayor for what she perceived as conceding to their demands. Mayor Sarrabeyrouse firmly denied this claim: “I did not yield to any threats. My priority was the safety of our personnel and local families,” he clarified. He also accused the small group of attempting to derail city initiatives ahead of the upcoming elections.
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