Book Claims Brigitte Macron Slapped Emmanuel After Alleged Message from Actress, Denials Issued
A new book by journalist Florian Tardif claims that Brigitte Macron physically confronted her husband, President Emmanuel Macron, aboard a plane in Hanoi in May 2025 after reportedly seeing a message from Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani on his phone. Tardif describes the exchange as part of a 'platonic' but emotionally charged correspondence that caused marital tension. Both Brigitte Macron’s representatives and Farahani deny the account, with the former stating she does not check her husband’s phone and the latter dismissing the rumors as baseless. The Elysée initially described the incident as a private, playful moment. The claims have resurfaced with the book’s publication, though no independent verification of the messages has been provided.
Both sources rely heavily on a single secondary source (Tardif) and fail to incorporate the broader geopolitical context of the US-Israel-Iran war, during which Farahani, as a prominent Iranian dissident, may carry symbolic or political weight. Neither source addresses why such a claim might circulate at this time or its potential implications for Macron’s foreign policy stance. Daily Mail offers slightly more balanced reporting with better attribution and inclusion of official denials, while news.com.au prioritizes emotional drama and speculative psychology.
- ✓ A video exists showing Brigitte Macron making physical contact with Emmanuel Macron’s face on a plane in Hanoi in May 2025.
- ✓ Journalist Florian Tardif has published a book claiming the incident followed Brigitte discovering a message from Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani on Emmanuel’s phone.
- ✓ Tardif claims Macron exchanged messages with Farahani, including 'I find you very pretty,' and that this caused marital tension.
- ✓ The Elysée and Brigitte Macron’s representatives have denied Tardif’s account, stating she never checks her husband’s phone and that the slap was not related to Farahani.
- ✓ Farahani denies any romantic relationship with Macron, calling such rumors a product of 'lack of love'.
- ✓ Initial official responses downplayed the incident, describing it as playful or private.
Emphasis on salacious detail
Describes the message more neutrally as 'I find you very pretty' without labeling it as romantic or inappropriate.
Emphasizes 'steamy', 'raunchy', and 'flirty' language, portraying the message as emotionally charged and potentially romantic.
Source credibility presentation
Notes Tardif’s role and claims of verification but includes Macron’s and Elysée’s counter-narratives more prominently.
Presents Tardif’s claims with minimal skepticism, integrating quotes from Paris Match serialization without critical framing.
Tone and sensationalism
Maintains a more formal tone, using terms like 'couple’s scene' and focusing on public perception.
Uses dramatic phrasing ('viral attack', 'tensions within the couple') to heighten emotional stakes.
Contextual completeness
Ignores Farahani’s political background entirely, treating her only as an actress.
Mentions Farahani’s status as a critic of Tehran but does not connect it to broader geopolitical tensions.
news.com.au
Framing: Frames the event as a sensational personal scandal involving infidelity, jealousy, and marital conflict, centering on leaked private messages and emotional betrayal.
Tone: Sensationalist and speculative, emphasizing drama, intimacy, and personal vulnerability.
Sensationalism: Headline uses emotionally charged language: 'allegedly slapped by wife over flirty text' evokes tabloid-style intrigue.
"French president Macron allegedly slapped by wife over ‘flirty text’"
Loaded Language: Phrases like 'steamy message', 'viral attack', 'raunchy messages' amplify emotional impact without verification.
"steamy message from a younger actress"
Cherry Picking: Focuses on unverified quotes from a single source (Tardif) while downplaying official denials until later.
"I find you very pretty, President Macron told Farahani"
Appeal To Emotion: Uses psychological speculation: 'She saw herself being erased' to dramatize Brigitte Macron’s emotional state.
"She saw herself being erased"
Vague Attribution: Relies on anonymous sources: 'Tardif quoted a friend of the first lady' without naming or verifying the source.
"Tardif quoted a friend of the first lady as saying"
Omission: Does not mention the broader geopolitical context of US-Israel-Iran war, despite its relevance to Farahani’s status as a critic of Tehran.
Daily Mail
Framing: Presents the event as a political-couple human-interest story, focusing on narrative intrigue and the symbolic meaning of marital conflict in public life.
Tone: More measured and journalistic than news.com.au, but still leans into dramatic storytelling with selective sourcing.
Narrative Framing: Structures the story around the 'infamous slap' as a pivotal moment, building a timeline of denial and revelation.
"Brigitte Macron's infamous slap of her husband Emmanuel was sparked when she saw a message..."
Framing By Emphasis: Highlights the 'viral video' and public perception angle, suggesting transparency issues in the presidency.
"In the viral video from May last year, the first lady was seen pushing the French president in the face"
Balanced Reporting: Includes Macron’s initial explanation ('bickering... joking') and Elysée’s characterization of the moment as 'relaxing'.
"an Elysée official described the episode as 'a moment when the president and his wife were relaxing'"
Proper Attribution: Clearly attributes claims to journalist Tardif and notes his affiliation and source verification claims.
"Tardif - a journalist at Paris Match who has been following the Macrons since 2017"
Editorializing: Uses interpretive language like 'promises to deliver an 'investigation' into the 'forbidden zones'' with ironic quotation marks, implying intrusion.
"promises to deliver an 'investigation' into the 'forbidden zones'"
Omission: Fails to mention the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war context or Farahani’s political significance beyond being an 'Iranian actress'.
Daily Mail
Provides clearer sourcing, includes official responses, and contextualizes the incident within public narratives and media management. However, both sources lack geopolitical context.
news.com.au
Offers more quoted material from the book and additional background on Farahani, but presents it with a sensationalist slant and weaker attribution structure.
Brigitte Macron's infamous 'slap' of Emmanuel 'was sparked when she saw a message sent to him from Iranian actress', new book claims
French president Macron allegedly slapped by wife over ‘flirty text’