A new book has made sensational claims that French President Emmanuel Macron was slapped by his wife, Brigitte Macron, during a foreign trip last year after she allegedly discovered a flirtatious message from a younger Iranian actress on his phone. The incident, which was captured on camera, went viral and has now been linked to alleged communications between Macron and actress Golshifteh Farahani.
Allegations from a New Book
Journalist Florian Tardif, in an interview with RTL France, claimed that the attack was triggered by steamy messages exchanged between Macron, 48, and Farahani, 42. Tardif's book, titled "An (Almost) Perfect Couple," was published on Wednesday and delves into the couple's private life. According to Tardif, one of the messages read: "I find you very pretty."
Farahani, known for her criticism of the Iranian regime, allegedly maintained a "platonic relationship" with Macron for several months. This reportedly led to tensions within the Macron couple, culminating in the public slap as they prepared to disembark their plane in Hanoi, Vietnam, in May last year.
The Incident and Denials
At the time, the couple denied any serious rift, insisting they were just "joking." However, Tardif claims that Brigitte had read a message from Farahani on her husband's phone moments before the slap. An excerpt from the book, serialized in Paris Match, suggests that what hurt Brigitte was not the content itself but the implication of a possibility, describing it as "nothing tangible but the idea alone was enough." A friend of the first lady is quoted as saying, "She saw herself being erased."
Despite these claims, a source close to Brigitte Macron "categorically denied" them, insisting that she "never looks into her husband's phone." Farahani has also denied any affair, telling journalists that their connection was platonic. In an interview with Le Point earlier this year, she remarked, "I think that there is a lack of love for some people and they need to create romances like this to fill [the void]."
Official Reactions
An Elysee official initially downplayed the incident, describing it as a moment of relaxation before the trip. Macron later admitted to "squabbling" with his wife but expressed surprise at the global attention. "We are squabbling and, rather, joking with my wife. I'm surprised by it, it turns into some kind of global catastrophe where people are even coming up with theories to explain it. It's nonsense," he told reporters.
Tardif, however, stands by his reporting, stating, "Everything in the book is facts, facts, and only facts." The claims have reignited discussions about the couple's relationship and the scrutiny faced by public figures.
