Macron Book Reignites Hanoi Slap Claims; Brigitte Denies Actress Link
France
Ludovic Marin/Reuters
Source Analysis
What Happened
What Happened
Where Sources Agree
- arrows_inputHanoi Incident Dismissed as Banter: Coverage broadly notes the viral video, which depicted Brigitte Macron pushing Emmanuel Macron's face during their May 2025 plane disembarkation in Hanoi, was officially dismissed as playful banter, with Macron himself stating they were 'joking around,' according to Elysée Palace statements and his own account.
- arrows_inputBook Alleges Macron Sent Text: Sources align on journalist Florian Tardif's new book, 'An (Almost) Perfect Couple,' alleging President Macron sent the text 'I find you very pretty' to actress Golshifteh Farahani, noting Brigitte Macron allegedly discovered these messages, according to the book.
- arrows_inputFirst Lady Denies Claims: Outlets concur on Brigitte Macron's representatives denying allegations directly to the author on March 5, stating she 'categorically denied this account' and 'never looks at her husband's mobile phone,' according to her representatives.
Where Sources Disagree
- arrows_outputHanoi Incident Cause: French officials and Brigitte Macron state the Hanoi plane incident was playful banter or due to her flight exhaustion. Conversely, journalist Florian Tardif's book claims it was a slap after Brigitte discovered Emmanuel's flirtatious texts to an actress.
Timeline
May 14, 2026
Denials and defence after publication: Following the book's publication, Brigitte's entourage and Farahani denied the affair-related claims, sources cautioned there is no publicly verified evidence linking Macron and the actress, and the author defended his reporting as cross-checked and factual amid ongoing media debate.
May 13, 2026
Book alleges flirtatious texts: On May 13, 2026, Florian Tardif published Un Couple (Presque) Parfait, claiming Emmanuel Macron exchanged 'flirty' messages with actress Golshifteh Farahani (including 'I find you very pretty') and that Brigitte saw messages shortly before the Hanoi incident, which the author says helped trigger the altercation.
March 5, 2026
Brigitte denies phone-snooping claim: Brigitte Macron told the book's author on March 5 that she never looks at her husband's mobile phone, and her representatives and close sources have strongly denied versions linking the Hanoi moment to her reading his texts.
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Source Analysis
Timeline
May 14, 2026
Denials and defence after publication: Following the book's publication, Brigitte's entourage and Farahani denied the affair-related claims, sources cautioned there is no publicly verified evidence linking Macron and the actress, and the author defended his reporting as cross-checked and factual amid ongoing media debate.
May 13, 2026
Book alleges flirtatious texts: On May 13, 2026, Florian Tardif published Un Couple (Presque) Parfait, claiming Emmanuel Macron exchanged 'flirty' messages with actress Golshifteh Farahani (including 'I find you very pretty') and that Brigitte saw messages shortly before the Hanoi incident, which the author says helped trigger the altercation.
March 5, 2026
Brigitte denies phone-snooping claim: Brigitte Macron told the book's author on March 5 that she never looks at her husband's mobile phone, and her representatives and close sources have strongly denied versions linking the Hanoi moment to her reading his texts.
