13.05.2026 21:30
The behind-the-scenes of the Macron couple's slap crisis in Vietnam has been revealed. In his new book, journalist Florian Tardif claimed that the tension was caused by "platonic" messages between Emmanuel Macron and Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani. As the argument following the message "I find you very beautiful," which Brigitte Macron allegedly caught on the plane, was captured on camera; the Elysee Palace and the First Lady's camp firmly denied allegations of phone monitoring and a secret relationship.
The mystery behind the images that were captured by cameras during last year's Vietnam visit, showing French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron in what was interpreted as a "slap," has been unraveled. In a new book written by journalist Florian Tardif, it is claimed that the tension between the couple stems from Macron's secret messaging with world-renowned Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani.
MAJOR FIGHT ON THE PLANE
According to the claim in the book by Paris Match writer Florian Tardif titled "(Almost) A Perfect Couple," a "platonic" closeness developed between President Macron and actress Farahani over several months. Tardif alleged that there were messages exchanged between the parties that went quite far, and that Macron wrote expressions to Farahani such as "I find you very beautiful."
According to the claim, while landing in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, Brigitte Macron caught these messages on her husband's phone. It was argued that the "slap" images, which caused a huge stir on social media, were the result of a "quite serious argument" that erupted after this discovery.
DENIAL FROM BRIGITTE MACRON
The allegations in question were firmly denied by Brigitte Macron's inner circle and the Presidency. Sources speaking to Le Parisien stated that the First Lady never checks her husband's phone. The Elysee Palace, regarding the images it had previously described as "artificial intelligence" or "joking," announced that Brigitte Macron herself contacted the author to deny this new claim.
"EVERYONE SHOULD CALM DOWN"
In the images recorded in May 2025, Brigitte Macron was seen making a sharp move with her hand toward Emmanuel Macron's face at the plane door. Emmanuel Macron defended that the incident was not a family quarrel, stating, "We were joking, as my wife and I often do, everyone should calm down."