French Minister Marlene Schiappa Under Fire for Playboy Cover Shoot

Marlene Schiappa, a French minister and self-proclaimed feminist, is receiving criticism from members of her own political party for her appearance on the cover of Playboy magazine. The 40-year-old author participated in a 12-page interview discussing women's and LGBT rights for the magazine. In the cover photo, Schiappa, who serves as the Minister for the Social Economy and French Associations, is seen wearing a white dress. Her decision to participate in the magazine shoot has not been supported by her colleagues in the government, who are currently dealing with violent protests over President Emmanuel Macron's plan to increase the retirement age. According to AFP, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, only the second woman to hold the position, contacted Schiappa to express her disapproval, stating that it "was not at all appropriate, especially in the current period." Despite the backlash, the mother of two defended her decision on Twitter on April 1.