Nicole Kidman's Balenciaga contract could be at risk after viral red carpet altercation with Salma Hayek

PARIS, FRANCE: The strained interaction between Nicole Kidman and Salma Hayek during Paris Fashion Week in September took an unexpected turn because of Salma's personal connections to Balenciaga.

The actresses appeared to be bickering in the viral video during Paris Fashion Week. The two were standing in front of photographers, along with singer Katy Perry, when the awkward moment was captured. 

Online critics have now pointed out that the altercation could take a more serious turn because Nicole is the brand ambassador for luxury brand Balenciaga, while Salma's millionaire husband Francois-Henri Pinault—whom she married in 2009—owns the premium business, per Daily Mail.

Nicole Kidman's Balenciaga deal in jeopardy following red carpet altercation with Salma Hayek

Social media is ablaze with debate on who was at fault after footage of the incident from two weeks ago surfaced online. Several also claimed that Nicole Kidman's Balenciaga brand ambassador contract might be at risk following the altercation.

French entrepreneur Pinault is the CEO of Kering, a company founded by his father, who first gained prominence in the timber sector before acquiring a 42% share in the Gucci Group in 1999.

Currently, the luxury goods company owns Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, and Bottega Veneta. Pinault, who was 40 at the time, succeeded his father as CEO of Kering in 2005.

Nicole was appointed as a Balenciaga brand ambassador in December 2023. Following the controversy, Nicole's ongoing association with the brand has drawn criticism, and Salma has also been under fire for her silence.

During Paris Fashion Week, the two were at the Balenciaga show when Salma moved Nicole with her arm as if to try to get her to turn around to the cameras. Nicole, however, seemed displeased and swatted her hand away. Nicole turned around and faced Salma as she pushed her hand away, then raised her hand to indicate that she should stop. After giving Katy a farewell kiss, Nicole exchanged a few words with Salma before walking away.

Salma and Nicole's altercation during Fashion Week has left fans divided. Some users criticized the conjecture, claiming that the video and the followers' response were making "drama from nothing."

Moreover, the event was Nicole's first public appearance since her mother Janelle died. The Australian actress revealed the death of her mother hours before she won Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival for her performance in 'Babygirl'.

Nicole Kidman fans worry her Balenciaga contract could be at risk

Nicole Kidman fans expressed their concern that her Balenciaga brand ambassador contract could be at risk following the fashion week drama with Salma Hayek as fashion commentator Louis Pisano wrote on X (formerly 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."

Others implied that Salma was acting in her capacity as the boss's wife when she tried to direct Nicole for the pictures, with one tweeting: "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."

Another remarked, "Nicole just remembered she has contract she gets millions from by a Company owned by Selma's husband."

"If Nicole actually said that, Salma’s husband would’ve already had platinum plated robots on standby," wrote one.

One noted, "Oh s**t. Salma’s facial expression tell me a lot about how Nicole gets down. Salma is going to get her handled."

Someone else said, "Aren't you just deliberately making drama out of that interaction?

"The art of making drama out of nothing," another opined.

Expert decodes Salma Hayek and Nicole Kidman's altercation during Fashion Week

An expert has weighed in on the incident between Nicole Kidman and Salma Hayek, which went viral after the two stars seemed to clash at the Paris Balenciaga presentation.

Body language expert Judi James has shared her perspective on what transpired between the actresses, calling it a "Devil Wears Prada lesson in status signals," per Daily Mail.

Judi described the star-studded scene of the confrontation as, "Paris fashion week shows are a hot-mess combo of rarefied, super-A-list air and the sweaty lower levels of a rugby scrum."

The expert added, "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."

Judi dismissed speculation that the actresses might have a past together, claiming that the unpleasant altercation was caused by 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 said.

"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," Judi concluded.

Salma Hayek and Nicole Kidman have had parallel careers

Salma Hayek and Nicole Kidman, both acting veterans in their late fifties, have had parallel careers in Hollywood after coming from non-American backgrounds. Both started out in the eighties and became iconic with major roles in their kitty by the noughties.

Both have one Oscar each and have maintained their careers to the present times. Kidman, earlier married to Tom Cruise, forms a power couple with musician husband Keith Urban, while Hayek is married to the French billionaire.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.