Alleged physical altercation: macron reportedly slapped by wife Gamelin Brigitte?
French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Southeast Asia commenced on Monday amidst a media fiasco. Instead of focusing on the anticipated economic agreements, French media centered their attention on an unsettling scene documented immediately after Macron's arrival in Vietnam.
Cameras captured a brief, uncanny moment through the open door of the presidential plane "Cotam 001" as Macron was reportedly manhandled by his wife, Brigitte, causing him to be pushed back. Initially, the Elysée Palace refuted the authenticity of the images. However, Macron's spokesperson later explained the incident as a private moment of relaxation and joviality between the president and his wife before the trip.
This seemingly private moment has since been capitalized upon by pro-Russian media, with social media profiles close to the Russian government, including state propaganda outlet Russia Today (RT), sharing the video on the microblogging platform X. Additionally, Macron's political opponents, particularly those from the right-wing Rassemblement National (RN), have joyfully exploited the reports.
In recent weeks, brief video clips have been used, notably by Russian media profiles, to publicly tarnish Macron, with this incident marking the second such case. Shortly after Macron's visit to Kyiv alongside Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a video emerged alleging Macron's possession of cocaine. The Élysée Palace promptly denied these claims, stating it was a handkerchief.
While there's been no direct association between video incidents involving Macron and Russian media, the French president has been involved in notable controversies related to media and video games. For instance, Macron linked violent video games to youth riots in France in July 2023, drawing criticism for his out-of-touch stance and lack of supporting evidence. On the other hand, Macron recently highlighted the success of the French video game "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33," emphasizing it as a symbol of French creativity and courage.
The relationship between Macron and international media, along with his involvement in broader international discussions such as his visit to Vietnam and his role in European Union affairs, continues to be significant. However, these areas do not directly relate to video incidents involving Russian media.
Russia-affiliated social media outlets, such as Russia Today (RT), have shared the footage of Emmanuel Macron's alleged manhandling by his wife, Brigitte, causing a stir in pop-culture and entertaining the French celebrities on various platforms including X. Meanwhile, Macron's opponents in the Rassemblement National (RN) have seized upon this incident to target the president, echoing recent attempts by Russian media to tarnish his image using brief video clips.
