A new book alleges French President Emmanuel Macron received a slap from his wife Brigitte after she discovered flirtatious messages with a younger actress on his phone. The incident reportedly occurred before their official visit to Vietnam in 2023, when cameras caught what appeared to be a tense moment between the couple as they exited their aircraft in Hanoi.
The Hanoi Airport Incident
Video footage from the Vietnam trip showed Brigitte appearing to strike Macron’s face as the airplane door opened. The French President seemed surprised by the cameras, attempting to downplay the situation. Brigitte remained visibly upset, refusing to hold his hand as they descended the aircraft stairs together. The French President’s office dismissed the incident at the time as casual interaction between spouses.
New Book Claims Reveal Details
Journalist Florian Tardif now claims the confrontation stemmed from messages between Macron and Franco-Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani. According to the book, the exchanges included compliments such as telling the actress he found her very attractive. Tardif alleges the communications continued over several months. Representatives for Brigitte Macron have publicly denied these allegations, rejecting the claims outlined in the publication.
Political Implications
The controversy arrives as Macron faces declining approval ratings at home. French political observers note that personal scandals have historically impacted presidential credibility in France. The timing of these revelations, emerging more than a year after the Vietnam incident, raises questions about the book’s publication strategy. Neither Macron’s office nor Farahani have issued statements addressing the specific allegations about their communications. The French first lady’s swift denial suggests the presidential team views the claims as potentially damaging to their public image.
