Politics · France · 2 hrs ago
Mathilde Panot rejects the Pink October cancer awareness campaign
Mathilde Panot, a French lawmaker with the left-wing party La France Insoumise, says she will not wear the pink ribbon associated with Pink October.
The annual campaign promotes breast cancer screening and raises money for research.
Panot argues that the campaign’s history is tied to a company that made both pesticides and cancer treatments, and she criticizes links between pesticide companies and Israel.
She also says politicians who support the campaign are hypocritical if they back the return of pesticides she says can harm children’s brains.
The campaign began in 1985 through a partnership between ICI and the American Cancer Society, while the pink ribbon was introduced in 1992 by Estée Lauder and a US magazine.
Political figures from the centre and far right have criticized Panot, accusing her of using the issue for political purposes or focusing too much on Israel.
Panot calls for an “October of anger” instead, linking her message to recent protests against pesticides.
French lawmaker Mathilde Panot said she would not wear the pink ribbon associated with the annual breast cancer awareness campaign Pink October.
In a video posted on 9 October, she argued the campaign was linked to a company that made pesticides and cancer treatments.
Panot also criticized the campaign over Syngenta’s links to its Israeli subsidiary and over lawmakers who backed the reintroduction of two pesticides.
Political opponents accused her of using the campaign for political purposes and of an “obsession with Israel.”
The campaign began in 1985 through a partnership between ICI and the American Cancer Society, while the pink ribbon was introduced in 1992 by Estée Lauder and a US magazine.
- Who
- Mathilde Panot, leader of La France insoumise’s lawmakers in France’s National Assembly.
- What
- She rejected wearing the Pink October ribbon and criticized the campaign’s links to pesticide companies.
- When
- She posted a video on 9 October 2026. Franceinfo published its report on 10 October 2026.
- Where
- France; Panot made her comments in a video posted on social media.
- Why
- She said the campaign was linked to an industrial company involved in pesticides and cancer treatments, and criticized lawmakers who backed the reintroduction of two pesticides.
Mathilde Panot
Panot's political opponents
Campaign and pesticide companies
Mathilde Panot
Panot said the campaign was linked to a company that sold pesticides and cancer treatments, and criticized Syngenta’s links to its Israeli subsidiary.
Panot's political opponents
Panot’s opponents criticized her remarks, accusing her of political exploitation or an “obsession with Israel.
Political response to pesticides
Mathilde Panot
Panot called lawmakers who backed the reintroduction of two pesticides hypocrites.
Panot's political opponents
Her opponents denounced her comments; the article does not give a detailed response to her argument about the pesticides.
The fight against cancer must not be pink varnish.
We do not want a Pink October, but an October of anger.
They sell the poison that makes you sick and then they sell the treatment for that same illness.
These people are hypocrites.
The breast cancer awareness month was launched through a partnership between ICI and the American Cancer Society.
The pink ribbon was introduced by Estée Lauder and a US magazine.
Pink October and its ribbon arrived in France through Estée Lauder France and the Marie Claire group.
Panot posted a video saying she would not wear the pink ribbon.
franceinfo published its report on the controversy.
- Video posted
- 9 October 2026
- Video views on X
- More than 1 million
- Campaign launch
- 1985, through a partnership between ICI and the American Cancer Society
- Pink ribbon introduced
- 1992, by Estée Lauder and a US magazine
- Campaign arrived in France
- 1994, through Estée Lauder France and the Marie Claire group
Sources
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