British PM Theresa May wore a Frida Kahlo bracelet and people are bemused

The Mexican painter was a member of the Mexican Communist Party and is said to have dated Marxist revolutionary Leon Trotsky.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has faced backlash on social media over her decision to wear a Frida Kahlo bracelet.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has faced backlash on social media over her decision to wear a Frida Kahlo bracelet. Source: Getty Images

One is the leader of the Conservative Party in the UK. The other was a Mexican painter who was a committed communist. 

But that clash of political ideologies didn't seem to bother British Prime Minister Theresa May as she chose to wear a bracelet featuring Mexican artist Frida Kahlo as she delivered her Conservative Party conference speech in Manchester on Wednesday.

During May's "nightmare" speech, which was marred by a coughing fit, a protester and letters falling off the backdrop, the piece of jewellery was on display for all to see.

On social media, people were quick to highlight the irony in May being a fan of the painter, who used to work to explore postcolonialism, gender, class, identity and race in Mexican society. She was a member of the Mexican Communist Party, is believed to have had an affair with Marxist revolutionary Leon Trotsky, and was laid to rest under a Communist flag when she died.
But others were more generous with their take on May's motivation.

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By Alyssa Braithwaite


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