A new book by French journalist Florian Tardif has reignited global scrutiny over last year’s viral Hanoi airport incident involving French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron.
The release has sparked a fresh wave of speculation regarding the private lives of the French first couple, who have faced intense media interest since Macron first took office.
Published on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, the book titled An Almost Perfect Couple alleges that a series of messages sparked deep-seated tensions between the pair.
According to the text, these exchanges occurred between the President and Iranian-French actress Golshifteh Farahani just moments before the widely discussed airport arrival in Vietnam.
Tardif alleges that Macron, 48, and Farahani, 42, maintained what he describes as a platonic relationship for several months leading up to the trip.
Brigitte Macron slapped her husband in the face after he sent flirty message to Iranian actress, according to a new book.
The book has claimed Macron text the actress telling her she was “very pretty” leading to Brigitte shoving him in a rage. pic.twitter.com/1VI6rLTh4H
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) May 14, 2026
These claims have been consistently and firmly denied by both the President and his wife, who have often projected an image of a unified partnership despite the pressures of the Elysee Palace.
The author serves as the political editor at Paris Match and is known for his deep ties within the French political establishment.
In his latest work, he cites several unnamed sources close to the couple. He claims Brigitte Macron confronted her husband during the long-haul flight to Hanoi in May 2025 after reportedly discovering the messages on his phone.
“The atmosphere on the aircraft was heavy and the staff were aware of a shift in the mood,” Tardif writes, citing a source allegedly present on the flight.
These allegations directly contradict earlier official explanations provided by the presidency, which maintained the viral moment was merely a private joke.
The footage in question was originally captured by the Associated Press and quickly became a sensation on social media.
The video showed Macron standing at the aircraft door in Hanoi.
As the presidential Airbus opened, Brigitte’s hands appeared to make contact with his face in a manner many observers interpreted as a gesture of frustration.
At the time, Macron dismissed the footage as a misunderstanding of a lighthearted moment.
“We were simply laughing together about a joke we had shared earlier,” the President told reporters during a subsequent press briefing.
He insisted the couple remained as close as ever, dismissing the firestorm as a product of a digital cycle.
Farahani is an internationally acclaimed star known for roles in Hollywood blockbusters such as Extraction and Body of Lies.
During an August 2025 interview with Gala magazine, she denied the rumours while promoting her film Alpha.
“These stories are entirely fabricated and have no basis in reality,” she said.