Nicole Kidman and Salma Hayek’s Fashion Week feud has gone viral after the two top stars appeared to clash at the Balenciaga show in Paris, and now an expert has intervened.
Nicole and Salma were standing in front of photographers with Katy Perry when a fiery altercation took place, apparently because Salma touched 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 frenzy on social media over who was in the wrong.
Body language expert Judi James has given her take on what really happened between the actresses, calling it a ‘Devil Wears Prada lesson in status signals’.
Nicole Kidman and Salma Hayek’s Fashion Week feud has gone viral after the two A-listers appeared to clash at the Balenciaga show in Paris, and now an expert has intervened
Footage of the incident two weeks ago emerged online on Sunday and has sparked a frenzy on social media over who was in the wrong
“The Paris Fashion Week shows are a hot combination of rarefied, super-A-list atmosphere and the sweaty lower levels of a rugby scrum,” Judi explains of the showdown’s star-studded setting.
‘Maintaining your dignity and maintaining impeccable elegance while being jostled and waited for what can often be hours are necessary skills and Nicole Kidman here offers what seems like a masterclass in protecting A-list parameters and status signals against all odds.’
Judi shut down talk that there could be a history between the actresses and believes the awkward altercation stems from an “etiquette issue.”
“This body language seems like a matter of subliminal etiquette, based on fashion house ‘rules’ that may be as complex as the Da Vinci Code,” she suggests.
‘Nicole appears to be happily posing with her friend Salma, politely putting an arm around her shoulders as they hold their torsos apart. The problem could possibly first arise when Nicole next turns around (with her hair covering her face from the cameras) for a more personal-looking, friendly conversation with Salma, who is still posing.”
‘In another clip we see Salma apparently trying to send Nicole away with an arm and a hand that, although they may not touch him, can be seen or felt as directive and a bit superior.’
‘Nicole appears to push the hand away, suggesting that the simulated touch violates some kind of silent etiquette, as in a possible ‘I choose when I go or where I move to’.’
She turns to kiss Katy, leaving Salma stunned. There do seem to be clues that could point to a small flashpoint before Nicole walks in the other direction.”
Body language expert Judi James has given her take on what really happened between the actresses, calling it a ‘Devil Wears Prada lesson in status signals’
Judi concludes: ‘Anyone who has seen The Devil Wears Prada should know that perhaps the body language of high fashion events should not be judged on normal earthly levels.’
Some tweeters agree with Judi and suggest that Salma was simply acting in her role as the boss’s wife when she tried to escort Nicole for the photos.
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 can boss her around. Plus, Nicole works there for Salma’s husband,” one commenter tweeted on Sunday.
Judi shut down talk that there could be a history between the actresses and believes the awkward altercation stems from an “etiquette issue.”
But online commentators have suggested Nicole’s brand ambassador deal with Balenciaga could be in jeopardy after the confrontation went viral.
French businessman Pinault is the CEO of Kering, a company founded by his father who made his name in the timber business before acquiring 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 appointed 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 of her husband, that Balenciaga contract is in danger I’m afraid.’
Some tweeters have suggested that Salma was simply acting in her role as the boss’s wife when she tried to escort Nicole for the photos. The actress is married to François-Henri Pinault, the CEO of Balenciaga parent company Kering (pictured during the show)
One witness claimed that Nicole firmly told Salma, “Don’t touch me.” The onlooker also claimed Ms Perry seemed ’embarrassed’.
One online watcher said: ‘Oh god, you could cut the tension with a knife’.
After pushing her hand away, Nicole turned her back before turning back to Salma and gesturing to her, including what appeared to be a hand signal to stop. She also pointed her finger.
Kidman then kissed Perry goodbye and walked away, appearing to share some more tense words with Hayek, who looked concerned.
Hayek and Kidman appeared in London on better terms in February 2003
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” – to which Kidman reportedly replied, “You don’t need it” and Hayek said, “I do.”
Fans were divided over the incident. One said online: ‘Why is Nicole so rude?’
But another on Reddit said: ‘I understand that Salma was probably trying to get her to pose for the cameras, but some people don’t like to be touched, no matter the situation, and you just have to respect that.”
Hayek took to Instagram on October 1 with a carousel of imagesone in which she posed with Kidman – with awkward body language emanating from both of them.