What happened between Nicole Kidman and Salma Hayek at Balenciaga show? Video of Paris Fashion Week confrontation goes viral

What happened between Nicole Kidman and Salma Hayek at Balenciaga show? (Image via Instagram/@salmahayek and @nicolekidman)
What happened between Nicole Kidman and Salma Hayek at Balenciaga show? (Image via Instagram/@salmahayek and @nicolekidman)

Actresses Nicole Kidman and Salma Hayek have been making headlines again. A viral clip has surfaced showing the two involved in a mild altercation during Paris Fashion Week in September 2024.

The incident occurred while they were posing for photographers alongside singer Katy Perry. The altercation occurred at the Balenciaga show, where The Perfect Couple actress walked off.

In the clip, Salma Hayek appears to be trying to get Nicole Kidman to turn back toward the cameras by using her arm to guide her. However, Kidman seems displeased and swatted Hayek's hand away.

After pushing her hand aside, she turned her back but faced Hayek again, signaling her to stop. As she walked away, Kidman kissed Katy Perry goodbye.

Nicole Kidman faced backlash for allegedly shoving Salma Hayek rudely, an action that was captured on camera. According to Mirror, Salma Hayek appeared to say, "Yes, please—advice," while Kidman responded, "You don’t need it," and Hayek replied, "I do."

The video has sparked speculations that Kidman’s relationship with Balenciaga might be in jeopardy due to Salma Hayek’s connection to the brand, as her husband, François-Henri Pinault, owns it. Nicole Kidman became a brand ambassador for Balenciaga in December 2023.

The Balenciaga show was one of Kidman's first public appearances after her mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, died in September 2024.

Some netizens criticized Kidman for being rude, while other social media users defended her, suggesting that while Salma Hayek was likely trying to guide her for the cameras, it was important to respect personal boundaries as some people are uncomfortable with being touched.


The confrontation between Nicole Kidman and Salma Hayek could be because of an ‘etiquette issue’

Daily Mail has analyzed the mild altercation between the two actresses with the help of body language expert Judi James. Addressing speculation that there may have been a more profound issue between the actresses, James suggested the awkward encounter stemmed from an etiquette issue.

She explained that the situation involved the unspoken rules of fashion house behavior. James observed that Nicole Kidman had appeared comfortable posing with Hayek, placing an arm around her while maintaining some physical distance.

The tension may have begun when she, with her face turned away from the cameras, engaged in a more personal conversation with Salma Hayek while remaining focused on posing.

Hayek trying to guide Kidman using an arm movement that, even if not physically touching, may have come across as somewhat controlling or authoritative. Nicole Kidman’s reaction, pushing Hayek’s hand away, suggested a breach of an unspoken boundary, as if she was asserting her autonomy over her movements.

James concluded that body language at high-fashion events, as portrayed in films like The Devil Wears Prada, should not be judged by typical standards.


Balenciaga faced backlash in late 2022 due to a controversial advertising campaign that featured children holding teddy bears dressed in bondage-inspired outfits. The campaign also included legal documents related to child exploitation cases, which further intensified public outrage.

In response to the widespread criticism, Balenciaga issued multiple apologies, stating that the images were inappropriate and that they took legal action against the production company and set designer.

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Edited by Priscillah Mueni