Bardot's ex-husband to retrieve belongings

Brigitte Bardot's last husband, Bernard d'Ormale, is set to retrieve his personal belongings from La Madrague, the Saint-Tropez property inherited by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation after her death in December 2025, according to a report by La Provence on October 28. The Foundation had previously denied d'Ormale access to the property, but an agreement has reportedly been reached allowing him to retrieve his items next week.

Access denied and items left behind

According to d'Ormale's lawyer, Aurélie-Caroline Vieugué, he had briefly left the property last Saturday to gather his personal effects. Upon returning, he found the gate locked and was no longer allowed access. D'Ormale left behind a handbag containing identification documents, a credit card, medical prescriptions, and other personal items. He expressed frustration with the situation, calling it "not very human" and noting it damaged the Foundation's image.

Dispute over access and legal concerns

D'Ormale had attempted to resolve the matter amicably, according to his lawyer, but was unsuccessful. He returned to the property on October 26 after reaching an agreement with the management to retrieve his documents, but was turned away. The general director of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, Guyslaine Calmels-Bock, stated that d'Ormale was being prevented from accessing the property because he was removing items daily, as confirmed by surveillance cameras.

Tensions over time and legal action

Tensions between d'Ormale and the Foundation have existed since Bardot's death. Vieugué noted that d'Ormale does not dispute the Foundation's ownership of the property but argued that a six-month period to move his belongings had been exceeded due to his age and the difficulty of the task. She stated that if the matter remains unresolved, legal action may be pursued.

Foundation defends its actions

The Foundation emphasized that it is acting "without any personal hostility" and "strict respect for the legal framework." It criticized d'Ormale for spreading "incomplete narratives" and "smear campaigns" aimed at destabilizing its activities and leaders, and reserved the right to take legal action if necessary.

Disputes over property use and items

The Foundation's president, Max Guazzini, accused d'Ormale of "permanently lying" and stated that as an administrator, he could not live in a Foundation property. He claimed that the Mini Moke, an iconic car associated with Bardot, had "disappeared," though d'Ormale had previously found the auction of Bardot's personal items "scandalous."