On April 15, 2019, the world was saddened by the images of the historic Notre Dame Cathedral engulfed in flames. Five years later, the iconic church reopened its doors, fully restored to its former glory after years of renovation and restoration work.
© GettyThe milestone came with a beautiful celebration, attended by many dignitaries. The guest list included business leaders, heads of state, royalty and celebrities like Elon Musk and Donald Trump. A notable couple is Salma Hayek and her husband, François-Henri Pinault, who are closely tied to the cathedral and its reconstruction process, as without her €100 million donation, it would never have opened again.
© GettyThe program was led by the President of France Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, who personally greets guests at the cathedral’s entrance. Salma and her husband were spotted in attendance, smiling and visibly thrilled to witness the results of the recovery. They stood in rapt attention during the official re-opening ceremony.
© GettyIt appeared to be a chilly night in Paris, as Salma was seen wearing an elegant green coat with a stole around her neck. She styled her hair in a high bun, letting her pearl earrings take center stage.
© GettyPinault’s multimillion-dollar donation to rebuild Notre Dame
© Philip WangThe exact cause of the Notre Dame fire on April 15, 2019 is still unknown, but investigators believe it was accidental. One theory is an electrical problem, perhaps from the wiring for the electric bell on the roof, which could have caused a short circuit. Authorities have ruled out arson, but investigations could not confirm the exact cause as much evidence was destroyed in the fire.
After the event, François-Henri Pinault expressed his desire to contribute to the reconstruction of the iconic landmark. He announced a generous donation for the effort, saying, “My father (Francois Pinault) and I have decided to immediately allocate 100 million euros from Artemis to participate in the work necessary to completely rebuild Notre Dame,” he said in a public announcement.
At this time, Hayek expressed his sorrow for this tragic incident and shared his deep concern on social media. “Like many others, I am deeply shocked and saddened to see the beauty of Notre-Dame go up in smoke,” he wrote. “I love you, Paris. Like so many others, with fear and sadness, I watch the beauty of Notre-Dame go up in smoke… Paris, I love you! #Notre Dame #Paris.”
