A video of Nicole Kidman and Salma Hayek appearing to have a tense exchange at Paris Fashion Week has set the internet ablaze with theories about the relationship between the actresses but, according to one source, the video is not what it seemed to be.
A resurfaced video from the Balenciaga show on Sept. 30 sparked debate online as some viewers alleged that Kidman sternly told Hayek, “don’t touch me” after the Without Blood star attempted to steer her to face cameras. However, after the clip went viral, a source told People “nothing happened.”
The viral video shows Hayek, 58, gently pushing Kidman, 57, in the direction of photographers who are attempting to snap a group shot of the actresses and Katy Perry. Kidman pushes Hayek arm away, while mumbling something that is hard to make out in the video, and turns to give Perry a kiss on the cheek. Kidman and Hayek then exchange words before the Big Little Lies actress walks away.
“They were being bombarded by cameras at the end of the show while in the middle of a conversation,” the insider said of the exchange. “People are looking at clips and making a story out of nothing.”
“This whole situation is silly. Salma and Nicole love and respect each other,” the source added.
An insider also shut down speculation to the Daily Mail, saying, “This is a snippet of a video that doesn’t represent reality. There is a photo of them posing together. Nothing happened.”
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“They were talking about something concerning advice and having a pow-wow – while being bombarded and yelled at and surrounded from all angles by cameras. They just wanted to go.”
Another clip from the event shows Kidman and Hayek with their arms around one another while posing for photos with Perry. Hayek also posted an Instagram carousel from the show and included a photo of Kidman in the post.
The two women both have separate ties to the French fashion house. Hayek’s husband, François-Henri Pinault, is the CEO of Balenciaga’s parent company, Kering, while Kidman has been a brand ambassador for Balenciaga since December 2023.
However, the also have ties in a more contentious way, which has only added to speculation about the video. Hayek has maintained a close friendship with Kidman’s ex-husband, Tom Cruise, since she starred in 2006 film Ask The Dust, which Cruise produced. The duo have been seen at many dinners together and, in July, Hayek even celebrated the actor’s 62nd birthday by posting a photo with him on Instagram.
Body language expert Judi James certainly speculated that there may be tension between the stars when she broke down the interaction to the Daily Mail. “We can see Salma apparently trying to steer Nicole around and away from her using an arm and a hand that could, although possibly not touching, be seen or felt as directive and a little superior,” James said. “Nicole appears to push the hand away, suggesting the mimed touch breached some kind of silent etiquette, as in a possible ‘I’ll choose when I go or where I move to.’”
Before you go, click here to see celebrity co-stars who allegedly hated each other in real life. 