In a matter of seconds, a two-second video shot on an airport tarmac in Hanoi has reignited a firestorm of gossip, speculation, and media frenzy around the marriage of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte. Once celebrated for its defiance of social norms, their union is again under global scrutiny—not for its origins this time, but for what appeared to be a slap to the president’s face.

Captured just after the French presidential jet landed in Vietnam, the footage shows Brigitte Macron striking or shoving her husband as he turns toward the crowd of media and officials awaiting them. The president recoils, seemingly shocked, before quickly regaining composure and waving to onlookers. Brigitte, 72, then declines to take his arm as they descend the plane’s stairs, adding to the optics of tension.

Initially dismissed by the Elysee Palace as AI-generated disinformation, the video’s authenticity was later confirmed. Officials attempted to brush off the incident as “a moment of togetherness” and “harmless horseplay.” But the damage had been done. Memes exploded across social media, and hashtags labeling Brigitte a “husband-beater” trended alongside images mocking the stunned president.

The film, shot at Hanoi’s international airport on Sunday night, showed Mrs Macron slap or shove her husband President Emmanuel Macron in the face 

This latest episode has once again peeled back the curtain on a marriage that has never fully escaped public curiosity or controversy. From its origin—Emmanuel was a 15-year-old schoolboy and Brigitte his 40-year-old drama teacher—to rumors of hidden lovers and conspiracy theories about Brigitte’s gender identity, their relationship has often seemed more like tabloid fodder than a presidential romance.

The slap was the spark, but the kindling had been stacked for years.

France, known for its laissez-faire approach to political marriages, has generally tolerated the Macrons’ atypical union. Yet, the persistent whispers about Emmanuel’s sexuality—particularly the widely circulated, though unproven, claims of compromising photos with media executive Mathieu Gallet—never completely faded. In 2018, Macron went so far as to deny an affair with his then-bodyguard Alexandre Benalla, declaring, “Benalla has never been my lover!”

Brigitte herself has had to endure more than most political spouses. In 2023, she candidly admitted to Paris Match that being in a relationship with such a young man was “crippling” at first. “You can imagine what my children were hearing,” she said, referring to the scandal the relationship stirred—especially since one of her daughters was Emmanuel’s classmate.

Officials finally had to concede the ‘slapping’ video was genuine

The couple eventually married in 2007, when Emmanuel was 29 and Brigitte 54. Still, internet conspiracy theorists have had a field day. Most notably, Brigitte has been falsely accused of being born male, with some claiming her real name is “Jean-Michel Trogneux”—in fact, the name of her brother. These transphobic rumors gained steam during Macron’s 2022 re-election campaign, weaponized by the far-right and anti-vaccine movements. Brigitte has since taken legal action, including filing complaints and securing damages from individuals responsible for spreading the false claims.

Now, the slap has reignited those conspiracies and raised new questions: was the moment a result of fatigue from a long flight, as aides insist, or was it a glimpse into a more complicated private dynamic?

Observers couldn’t help but notice that Macron, whose clenched fist at the ceremony following the incident seemed to betray his emotions, looked unusually tense. Though palace insiders insist the pair were just “joking around,” others aren’t convinced. “He is lost,” tweeted French political commentator Alexis Poulin. Even France’s national news agency AFP—typically silent on personal matters—felt compelled to weigh in: “Bickering, a moment of complicity or a blow to the face?”

Theories abound. Was it a maternal scolding? An angry reaction to a previous dispute? Or perhaps, as one social media post sarcastically suggested, she was “wiping the powder off his nose”—a nod to recent debunked rumors of the president allegedly handling cocaine.

Beyond the noise, the incident reminds the public that, despite eight years on the global stage, the Macrons remain something of an enigma. Brigitte continues to play a decisive role in her husband’s life and career. According to Paris insiders, she organizes his schedule, helps pick his wardrobe, and even chastises him when necessary.

Whether the slap was playful or punitive, staged or spontaneous, the world may never know. But in the court of public opinion, the moment—frozen in a viral loop—has only fueled the legend of France’s most unconventional first couple. And as Macron nears the end of his presidency in 2027, the scrutiny of his personal life is unlikely to fade. If anything, it may intensify.