Nicole Kidman and Salma Hayek’s Fashion Week altercation has gone viral after the two A-listers seemed to clash at the Paris Balenciaga show, and now an expert has weighed in.
Nicole and Salma were stood in front of photographers with Katy Perry when seemingly an altercation took place, apparently over Salma touching the Australian star when they were asked to pose together.
Footage of the incident two weeks ago emerged online on Sunday, and has sparked a social media frenzy over who was in the wrong.
Body language expert Judi James has given her view on what really happened between the actresses, dubbing it a ‘Devil Wears Prada lesson in status signals’.
Nicole Kidman and Salma Hayek’s Fashion Week altercation has gone viral after the two A-listers seemed to clash at the Paris Balenciaga show , and now an expert has weighed in
Footage of the incident two weeks ago emerged online on Sunday, and has sparked a social media frenzy over who was in the wrong
‘Paris fashion week shows are a hot-mess combo of rarefied, super-A-list air and the sweaty lower levels of a rugby scrum,’ explains Judi of the star-studded setting of the confrontation.
‘Keeping your dignity and maintaining impeccable elegance while being jostled and made to wait for what can often be hours are necessary skills, and Nicole Kidman offers what looks like a masterclass here in protecting A-list parameters and status signals against all odds.’
Shutting down chatter that there could be history between the actresses, Judi believes the awkward altercation stems from an ‘etiquette issue’.
‘This body language looks like a subliminal etiquette issue, based on fashion house ‘rules’ that are possibly as complex as the Da Vinci Code,’ she suggests.
‘Nicole seems to be posing happily with her friend Salma, placing a polite arm round her shoulders while keeping their torsos apart. The problem might possibly first arise when Nicole then turns (with her hair covering her face from the cameras) to have a more personal-looking friendly chat to Salma, who is still working the pose.’
‘In another clip we can see Salma apparently trying to steer Nicole around and away from her using an arm and a hand that could, although possibly not touching, be seen or felt as directive and a little superior.
‘Nicole appears to push the hand away, suggesting the mimed touch breached some kind of silent etiquette, as in a possible “I’ll choose when I go or where I move to”.
‘She turns back to kiss Katy, leaving Salma looking nonplussed. There does appear to be some pointing that could look like a small flashpoint before Nicole walks off in the other direction.’
Body language expert Judi James has given her view on what really happened between the actresses, dubbing it a ‘Devil Wears Prada lesson in status signals’
Judi concludes: ‘Anyone who has seen The Devil Wears Prada though should know that high fashion event body language maybe shouldn’t be judged at normal earthling levels.’
Some tweeters have agreed with Judi, suggesting Salma was simply acting in her role as the boss’ wife when she tried to guide Nicole for the photographs.
The actress is married to François-Henri Pinault, the CEO of Balenciaga parent company Kering.
‘Nicole is an employee of Salma’s husband so yes, Salma gets to boss her around. Besides, Nicole is there working for Salma’s husband,’ tweeted one commentator on Sunday.
Shutting down chatter that there could be history between the actresses, Judi believes the awkward altercation stems from an ‘etiquette issue.’
French businessman Pinault is the CEO of Kering, a business established by his father who made his name in the timber trade before snapping up a 42 percent stake in the Gucci Group in 1999.
The luxury goods company today owns Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta and Alexander McQueen. In 2005, Pinault, then 40, took over the role of CEO of Kering from his father.
Nicole meanwhile was named brand ambassador for Balenciaga in December 2023.
Writer and fashion commentator Louis Pisano wrote on Twitter: ‘oh that “don’t touch me” from Nicole to Salma at a brand show owned by her husband, that Balenciaga contract is in danger I fear.’
Some tweeters have suggested Salma was simply acting in her role as the boss’ wife when she tried to guide Nicole for the photographs. The actress is married to François-Henri Pinault, the CEO of Balenciaga parent company Kering (pictured at the show)
One witness claimed that Nicole told Salma firmly: ‘Don’t touch me’. The onlooker also claimed that Ms Perry had appeared ’embarrassed’.
An online watcher said: ‘Oh god, you could cut the tension with a knife.’
After pushing away her hand, Nicole turned her back before swivelling again to face Salma and gesticulated at her, including what appeared to be a hand signal for stop. She also pointed her finger.
Kidman then kissed Perry goodbye and walked away while appearing to share several more tense words with Hayek, who looked worried.
Hayek and Kidman appeared on better terms in February of 2003 in London
Nicole, who won the Best Actress Oscar for The Hours in 2003 – the same year Hayek was nominated against her for Frida – appeared to exchange more words with Ms Kidman out of shot,
Hayek was seen saying, ‘Yes please – advice’ – at which point Kidman purportedly replied, ‘You don’t need it’ and Hayek said, ‘I do.’
Fans were split over the incident. One said online: ‘Why is Nicole being so rude?’
But another on Reddit said: ‘I get that Salma was probably trying to direct her to pose for the cameras, but some people don’t like to be touched regardless of the situation, and you just gotta respect that’.
Hayek took to Instagram October 1 with a carousel of images, one in which she posed with Kidman – with awkward body language emanating from both.
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