Brigitte Macron slapped husband over texts to actress, claims book
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A new book by Paris Match journalist Florian Tardif has revived controversy surrounding a viral incident involving French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, during a state visit to Vietnam in May 2025.
The publication, titled Un couple (presque) parfait ("An (Almost) Perfect Couple"), alleges that the First Lady confronted her husband after discovering personal messages on his phone from Iranian-French actress Golshifteh Farahani.
According to Tardif, who claims to have interviewed more than 70 sources including individuals close to the presidential couple, Brigitte Macron saw the messages during the presidential flight to Hanoi.
The exchanges were described as part of a months-long "platonic" relationship, with some texts reportedly including affectionate remarks such as "I find you very pretty."
Video footage from the arrival showed Brigitte Macron raising her hands to her husband's face in what appeared to many observers as a slap or push.
At the time, the Élysée Palace and President Macron dismissed the moment as lighthearted joking or playfulness between the couple before disembarking.
Tardif maintains that the incident stemmed from a genuine "couple's scene" rather than a staged or playful exchange.
He claims that his account is based on repeated corroboration from sources within the couple's circle, distinguishing it from mere rumor.
Representatives for Brigitte Macron have denied the allegations.
Her entourage has rejected claims that she routinely checks her husband's phone or that any inappropriate relationship existed, asserting that the Hanoi incident was unrelated to the reported messages, according to French media outlets such as Le Parisien.
Golshifteh Farahani, a prominent exiled Iranian actress known for roles in international films such as Body of Lies, Paterson, and Extraction, has not publicly commented in detail on the specific claims.
She previously described circulating rumors as reflecting a "lack of love in society."
