Book revelation: 'Brigitte Macron slammed president for texting Iranian actress'

© picture alliance / ipa-agency | ALESSIA GIULIANI

A new book by Florian Tardif, Paris Match journalist, claims that the infamous slap Brigitte Macron gave her husband at Hanoi airport in May 2025 was triggered by a text message she found on his phone from Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani.

The actress lives in exile in France and the message made the first lady fear that Macron would leave her.

About the incident, Emmanuel Macron stated that he was "bickering" with his wife and "joking" with her "as I often do." Brigitte Macron explained the incident was due to fatigue and severe turbulence during the flight, "I preferred to stay on the plane. He tried to make me laugh. He gave me some water and I pushed him away," Brigitte said in an interview she gave to the journalist.

Golshifteh Farahani herself has also often dismissed rumors of a romance between her and the French president.

Florian Tardif says he only included hard facts in his book "Un Couple (Presque) Parfait" (An (almost) perfect couple). He describes the relationship between the president and the actress as "platonic," but states that Macron sent messages that "went pretty far," such as compliments about her looks.

The incident made international headlines again in April when Trump mockingly referred to it in an attack on Macron after France refused to join the war against Iran.

Farahani (42) fled Iran following a travel ban she received after appearing without a hijab in Ridley Scott's 2008 film Body of Lies alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. Since then, she has profiled herself in France as an outspoken critic of both the Iranian regime and Western powers.

Picture: © picture alliance / ipa-agency | ALESSIA GIULIANI