Reports claim Brigitte Macron slapped French President Emmanuel Macron after discovering flirty text messages he sent to an Iranian actress [1, 2].
The allegations suggest a moment of private marital conflict became public during a high-profile diplomatic mission, potentially impacting the image of the French presidency.
The incident allegedly occurred in 2023 during a state visit to Hanoi, Vietnam [4, 5]. According to reports, the conflict began when Brigitte Macron saw messages sent by the president to actress Golshifteh Farahani [2, 4].
Rita Panahi of Sky News Australia said, "He has sent her steamy messages like, I find you very pretty" [1]. Panahi said, "I’m not surprised Brigitte got very angry indeed, you can't be sending messages like that as a married man" [1].
However, the nature of the physical encounter is disputed. Some reports describe the event as a slap triggered by the discovery of the texts [1, 3]. Other accounts provide a different perspective on the interaction.
An Elysée official said to Yahoo News that the couple was only "having a laugh" when Brigitte Macron appeared to push the president [5]. The official said no slap occurred [5].
The reports stem from a book detailing the events of the trip and the subsequent reactions of the couple [2, 4]. The incident gained attention after footage of the interaction in Vietnam appeared to show a physical gesture between the two [3].
“"He has sent her steamy messages like, I find you very pretty."”
This incident highlights the tension between the private lives of world leaders and their public personas. While the Elysée Palace characterizes the event as a playful interaction, the persistence of the 'slap' narrative in international media underscores how easily diplomatic footage can be reinterpreted through the lens of personal scandal.
