succès de scandale

American  

[syk-sed^uh skahn-dal] / sük sɛdə skɑ̃ˈdal /

noun

French.

1. success won by reason of topical, usually scandalous, subject matter rather than by merit and critical respect.

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succès de scandale British  

/ syksɛ də skɑ̃dal /

noun

1. success of a play, book, etc, because of notoriety or its scandalous character

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Etymology

Origin of succès de scandale

literally: success of scandal

Example Sentences

Last week, a new play inspired by Schnitzler’s succès de scandale premiered at the Salzburg Festival, where it was one of two reworked classics during the event’s opening days.

From New York Times

Before he finished there, he caught the attention of the opera world when, at 28, he won the renowned Ring Award in Graz, Austria, with something of a succès de scandale.

From New York Times

As his art was being turned into a succès de scandale by the gullible press, Warhol began cultivating a public image, one that had little to do with the manner and style of “Raggedy Andy,” the whimsical oddball he’d been since his student days.

From Los Angeles Times

But after its success and the succès de scandale of “Last Tango in Paris,” released in the United States the following year, Brando went back to doing movies for cash.

From Washington Post

The movie takes up with the filmmaker as his second collaboration with Salvador Dalí, “L’Age d’Or,” becomes a sufficient succès de scandale in Paris to get him blackballed by the French film industry.

From New York Times