Brigitte Bardot, 87, steps back into the spotlight to SLAM French athlete

Brigitte Bardot says Kurt Zouma should be dropped from the French national team and has contacted the country’s prosecutors demanding they take action – as his club has lost a second sponsor after a video of him kicking a cat emerged.

Miss Bardot, 87, a committed animal rights activist, said she felt ‘scandalized’ when she saw videos of Zouma’s ‘imbecile behavior’ – as his mistreating of the animal 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 center-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 Zouma, 27, 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.’

Yesterday Adidas – the defender’s official personal kit supplier – confirmed ties had been cut with the player, and life insurance company Vitality said it was suspending its $678,000- (£500,000)-a-year sponsorship as West Ham’s official wellness partner.

After the video emerged and Zouma played against Watford, the Hammers’ official destination partner Experience Kissimmee said it would evaluate its relationship with the club. The tourist board for the Florida city has now announced it has decided to terminate the partnership.

President and chief executive of the tourist board DT Minich said: ‘Due to recent events, Experience Kissimmee has made the decision to part ways with West Ham United Football Club and end our sponsorship of the team. As an organization and community, we welcome visitors and locals alike to join us in celebrating wildlife and nature, now and always.’ He continued: ‘We are proud to work with partners who are accredited, certified and regulated to the highest standards of animal care.’

In France, animal rights group the 30 Million Friends Foundation condemned the ‘heinous act’ and called for Zouma (pictured) to be suspended from the national team.

Miss Bardot also said: ‘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. I also take this opportunity to thank the West Ham supporters who whistled Zouma during Tuesday’s match.’ She continued: Today, I am worried about this player’s cats, it was not a fit of anger but mistreatment to amuse the public.’ Pictured: Bardot in 1969. 

Bardot added: ‘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.’