Pierre Niney delivers Scathing Response to Macron’s New Year’s Address
Actor Pierre Niney, known for his roles in films like Yves Saint Laurent and the recent adaptation of Comte de Monte Cristo, publicly challenged a statement made by President Emmanuel Macron during his New Year’s address on December 31, 2022.
Macron, addressing the nation, remarked, “Who coudl have predicted the wave of inflation thus triggered? Or the climate crisis with extraordinary effects again this summer in our country?”
Niney responded sarcastically on X (formerly Twitter): “But then really only the specialists…“
The actor, who won a César Award for Best Actor in 2015, has a history of publicly voicing his opinions, notably criticizing the extended closure of cultural venues during the 2021 health crisis. At the time, he pointed out the disparity between closed museums and theaters and the continued operation of places of worship and large retail stores, writing on Instagram, “100 days without any museum… But with all places of worship. 100 days without any cinema… But with all the big stores.” He received a response from then-Minister of Culture Roselyne Bachelot, who acknowledged the difficulty of the situation and emphasized the need for caution to avoid further closures.
Niney has also previously argued that cultural spaces were among the safest environments during the pandemic, citing measures like masked audiences and social distancing.