Nicole Kidman and Salma Hayek's viral Paris Fashion Week altercation, came just weeks after Nicole's mother passed away.
The two A-list stars were involved in what appeared to be a red carpet row at the the Balenciaga show at the end of last month, which saw the Australian actress, 57, walk off.
They were stood in front of photographers with Katy Perry when a fiery altercation took place, apparently over Salma, 58, touching Nicole when they were asked to pose together.
Footage of the incident two weeks ago emerged online on Sunday, and has sparked a social media frenzy over who was in the wrong.
The event marked a significant and potentially high-pressure moment for Nicole, as it was her first public appearance since the death of her mother Janelle.
Nicole Kidman and Salma Hayek 's viral Paris Fashion Week altercation , came just weeks after Nicole's mother passed away (pictured with her mother Janelle in 2018)
The two A-list stars were involved in what appeared to be a red carpet row at the the Balenciaga show at the end of last month, which saw the Australian actress, 57, walk off
Footage of the incident two weeks ago emerged online on Sunday, and has sparked a social media frenzy over who was in the wrong
The Oscar winner announced the death of her mother just hours before being awarded the Best Actress gong at Venice Film Festival at the start of last month.
She had landed in Venice for her film Babygirl, but was forced to leave early to return to her native Sydney to be with her family after the devastating news.
Her director Halina Reijn read a statement from the actor instead, revealing that Nicole's mother Janelle died at the age of 83 while she was in Venice.
The statement read: 'Today I arrived in Venice to find out shortly after, that my beautiful, brave mother Janelle Ann Kidman has just passed.
'I am in shock and I have to go to my family, but this award is for her, she shaped me, she guided me, and she made me.
'I am beyond grateful that I get to say her name to all of you through Halina, the collision of life and art is heart-breaking, and my heart is broken. We love you all.'
In an interview with the Fresh Air podcast in January 2022, Nicole spoke briefly about her mother's health issues.
She said they'd managed to visit the Art Gallery of New South Wales after-hours, where they took in the Matisse: Life & Spirit exhibition, describing it as 'soothing balm'.
The event marked a significant and potentially high-pressure moment for Nicole, as it was her first public appearance since the death of her mother Janelle (pictured together)
The Oscar winner announced the death of her mother just hours before being awarded the Best Actress gong at Venice Film Festival at the start of last month (pictured at Venice)
She had landed in Venice for her film Babygirl (pictured), but was forced to leave early to return to her native Sydney to be with her family after the devastating news
'We're down here primarily to take care of my mother and to have her surrounded by her grandchildren,' she said.
'So luckily yesterday, even though Omicron is raging through this country, we were able to take her into the gallery after hours and show her the Matisse exhibit, which coming from a mother who's raised me in the arts, it was soothing balm. Matisse was soothing balm last night.'
Later in the interview, Nicole said she felt privileged to be able to see the world through her mother's eyes, describing it as 'so beneficial'.
'I'm at the place where I'm being given the chance to view the world, because of how close we are, my mum is giving me the chance to view the world through an 81-year-old woman's eyes,' she explained.
'That is so beneficial right now, because she's so cognisant. She has every brain faculty available, so she hasn't lost anything. She hasn't lost any memory, which is fascinating, and she's extremely bright.
'She's giving me access, because she's also very direct and very honest, and so I'm getting access to the world through her eyes, my mother's eyes, so therefore a part of me almost at 80.'
She added: 'It's her perspective, obviously. There's many different 80-year-old perspectives, but it's her perspective, and her particular path, but I'm drinking it in and learning.'
Fans were split over Nicole's apparent awkward clash with Salma, with one saying online: 'Why is Nicole being so rude?'
Her director Halina Reijn read a statement from the actor instead, revealing that Nicole's mother Janelle died at the age of 83 while she was in Venice (pictured)
In an interview with the Fresh Air podcast in January 2022, Nicole spoke briefly about her mother's health issues
But another on Reddit said: 'I get that Salma was probably trying to direct her to pose for the cameras, but some people don’t like to be touched regardless of the situation, and you just gotta respect that'.
One witness claimed that Nicole told Salma firmly: 'Don't touch me', while the onlooker also claimed that Katy had appeared 'embarrassed'.
An online watcher said: 'Oh god, you could cut the tension with a knife.'
After pushing away her hand, Nicole turned her back before swivelling again to face Salma and gesticulated at her, including what appeared to be a hand signal for stop. She also pointed her finger.
Nicole then kissed Katy goodbye and walked away while appearing to share several more tense words with Salma.
Nicole, who beat Salma out for the Best Actress Oscar in 2003 for The Hours, appeared to exchange more words with Salma out of shot.
Salma was seen saying: 'Yes please – advice' – at which point Kidman purportedly replied: 'You don't need it' and Salma said: 'I do.'
Salma took to Instagram October 1 with a carousel of images, one in which she posed with Nicole – with awkward body language emanating from both.
Fans were split over Nicole's apparent awkward clash with Salma, with an online watcher saying: 'Oh god, you could cut the tension with a knife'
The interaction has another twist in the tale thanks to Salma's personal links to Balenciaga, as her husband François-Henri Pinault is CEO if the brand's parent company (Salma, Francois and Nicole pictured at the show)
The tense interaction has another twist in the tale thanks to Salma's personal links to Balenciaga.
Some online commentators pointed out that her billionaire husband François-Henri Pinault, who she married in 2009, owns luxury brand Balenciaga, while Nicole is employed as a brand ambassador.
French businessman Pinault is the CEO of Kering, a business established by his father who made his name in the timber trade before snapping up 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 named 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 owned by her husband, that Balenciaga contract is in danger I fear.'
Others suggested Salma was in her role as the boss' wife when she tried to guide Nicole for the photographs, 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.'
French businessman Pinault is the CEO of Kerring which owns Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta and Alexander McQueen
Writer and fashion commentator Louis Pisano wrote on Twitter: 'That Balenciaga contract is in danger I fear'
Others suggested Salma was in her role as the boss' wife when she tried to guide Nicole for the photographs
One witness claimed that Nicole told Salma: 'Don't touch me'. The onlooker also claimed that Ms Perry had appeared 'embarrassed'.
Nicole, who is an ambassador alongside the likes of Kim Kardashan and Isabelle Hubbert, gushed at the time of her appointment: 'Balenciaga has been with me through some of the most memorable events in my life, from my wedding to the Oscars red carpet,' adding that she looks forward to 'creating more memories together.'
In 2022, the Spanish brand caused a major controversy on social media when it used images of children holding teddy bears dressed in bondage gear in its Christmas campaign.
Nicole's continued involvement with the brand has attracted criticism in the two years since the scandal, whilst Salma's silence on the scandal also saw her slammed.
Balenciaga issued a statement at the time apologising for the campaign, stating: 'We sincerely apologise for any offence our holiday campaign may have caused.'
'Our plush bear bags should not have been featured with children in this campaign. We have immediately removed the campaign from all platforms.
'We strongly condemn abuse of children in any form. We stand for children safety and well-being.'