A video of French President Emmanuel Macron being slapped in the face by his wife, Brigitte Macron, has gone viral.
The incident reportedly took place aboard the presidential plane shortly before landing in Vietnam, where Macron was beginning a diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia.
In the footage, Macron is seen speaking with Brigitte near the aircraft’s exit when she suddenly reaches out and appears to strike him across the mouth. Macron looks visibly surprised but quickly regains his composure and waves to the waiting press.
As the couple disembarked, Macron extended his arm to Brigitte, but she declined and chose to hold the stair railing instead.
The French presidential team initially denied the video’s authenticity but later confirmed it, downplaying the incident as “a little fun” between the couple.
“It was a moment of togetherness. No more is needed to fuel the conspiracy theorists,” a source close to the couple said.
The clip has stirred concern and debate, especially in light of the long-scrutinized relationship between the couple. Brigitte, who is 25 years older than Macron, was his drama teacher when their relationship began during his teenage years.
While the French government attempts to downplay the video, critics argue that the gesture raises questions about the dynamics of the couple’s relationship.