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Truth or Fake - Macron’s alleged ‘slap’ was sparked by texts with Iranian actress, book claims

France24 · 🇫🇷 public France · · 402 words · By Vedika BAHL
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What to know about Truth or Fake - Macron’s alleged ‘slap’ was sparked by texts with Iranian actress, book claims

Macron’s alleged ‘slap’ was sparked by texts with Iranian actress, book claims To display this content from YouTube, you must enable

Claims checked 10
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left12%
Center76%
Right12%

8 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Macron’s alleged ‘slap’ was sparked by texts with Iranian actress, book claims To display this content from YouTube, you must enable

Why it matters

The stakes turn on whether readers accept that According to Gala, these rumours began spreading in 2024 by Iranian accounts on X. That point shapes the political meaning of the story.

Common ground

The clearest point to anchor on is this: According to Gala, these rumours began spreading in 2024 by Iranian accounts on X.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.france24.com/en/macron-s-alleged-slap-was-sparked-by-texts-with-iran…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 10 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 6
help Insufficient Evidence 2
info Single Source 2
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Claim 1: “According to Gala, these rumours began spreading in 2024 by Iranian accounts on X.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided in the search results to support or refute this claim.
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Claim 2: “He said it prompted the incident seen around the world: the apparent slap as the pair exited the presidential plane in Hanoi.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources (India Today, News18) link the 'slap' incident in Hanoi to the discovery of messages between Macron and Farahani as alleged in Tardif's book.
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web search NEUTRAL — French President Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron have been hit with new claims suggesting that the French president might have been cheating on his 73-year-old wife.
https://www.msn.com/en-in/family-and-relationships/general/m…
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web search NEUTRAL — French First Lady Brigitte Macron slapped President Emmanuel Macron during a foreign trip last year after allegedly discovering messages exchanged between him and Iranian-born actress Golshifteh Farah…
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/emmanuel-macron-brigit…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Brigitte Macron's infamous slap of her husband Emmanuel Macron before descending the plane's steps in Vietnam, went viral.She saw a message from her on Macron's phone, Tardif claims, adding that Macro…
https://www.wionews.com/trending/book-claims-brigitte-slappe…
info
Claim 3: “The French president also denied any domestic dispute, stating they were "horsing around."”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence provided for this claim consists of the etymology and biblical meaning of the name 'Emmanuel' and does not contain any statements from the French president regarding 'horsing around'.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Immanuel or Emmanuel (Hebrew: עִמָּנוּאֵל, romanized: ʿĪmmānūʾēl, "God [is] with us"; Koine Greek: Ἐμμανουήλ Emmanūēl) is a Hebrew name that appears in the Book of Isaiah (7:14) as a sign that God wil…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immanuel
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web search NEUTRAL — May 16, 2025 · Emmanuel means “”God with us,”” a powerful promise of God’s presence and love that is central to Christian faith. The name appears as “”Immanuel”” in the Old Testament and “”Emmanuel”” …
https://christianpure.com/learn/emmanuel-meaning-bible/
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web search NEUTRAL — Dec 22, 2022 · In that moment when God became flesh, humanity watched prophecies unfold as hope was born. The New Testament makes it clear, Jesus, God’s Son, was the fulfillment of Old Testament proph…
https://www.ibelieve.com/christian-living/the-meaning-and-im…
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Claim 4: “Farahani had dismissed previous rumours last year of a purported relationship with the French head of state, telling Gala "it comes in waves, appears, disappears. It doesn't even bother me."”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided in the search results to support or refute this claim.
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Claim 5: “He claimed that, according to sources close to the couple, Brigitte Macron was very angry after seeing "a message that she was never meant to read" on her husband's phone, and that they quarrelled en route to Southeast Asia.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources (News18, India Today, and other reports) corroborate the claim that Tardif alleges Brigitte Macron saw messages on Emmanuel Macron's phone and they quarreled during a flight to Southeast Asia/Vietnam.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Florian is a masculine given name borrowed from the ancient Roman name Florianus. [1] The name is derived from Florus, [2] from Latin flōrus (originally "yellow, blond", later "flowering"), related to…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florian_(name)
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Make an appointment with Dr. Florian Walter, DO of Phoenix, AZ. Find location information or contact Dr. Florian Walter, DO here.
https://www.dignityhealth.org/ourdoctors/1407835192-florian-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Apr 23, 2024 · From the Roman cognomen Florianus, a derivative of Florus. This was the name of a short-lived Roman emperor of the 3rd century, Marcus Annius Florianus. It was also borne by Saint Flori…
https://www.behindthename.com/name/florian
info
Claim 6: “An AI-generated tabloid magazine cover online claimed to show President Emmanuel Macron and Iranian-French actress Golshifteh Farahani together.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of general definitions of Artificial Intelligence from Wikipedia and OpenAI, but does not mention any specific AI-generated tabloid cover involving Emmanuel Macron and Golshifteh Farahani.
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web search NEUTRAL — Artificial intelligence (AI) is the capability of computational systems to perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and dec…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence
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web search NEUTRAL — For those unfamiliar with computer science, it can be overwhelming to try and grasp the many facets of artificial intelligence and their implications. Here, we break down what artificial intelligence …
https://www.iso.org/artificial-intelligence/
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web search NEUTRAL — We believe our research will eventually lead to artificial general intelligence, a system that can solve human-level problems. Building safe and beneficial AGI is our mission.
https://openai.com/
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Claim 7: “At the time, the Elysee Palace initially cast doubt that the images were real, though later clarified it was just "banter" between a couple before a long official visit.”
CORROBORATED
Both India Today and another source citing Élysée Palace officials describe the incident as 'playful banter' or a 'joke' before the trip.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — France–Singapore relations refers to the bilateral relations between the French Republic and the Republic of Singapore.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France–Singapore_relations
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of international presidential trips made by Emmanuel Macron, the 25th and current President of France. As of May 2026, Emmanuel Macron has made 335 presidential trips to 99 states inter…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_presiden…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of international prime ministerial trips made by Pedro Sánchez, the current Prime Minister of Spain since 2 June, 2018
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_prime_mi…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 8: “They also specified the French First Lady never looks at her husband's mobile phone.”
CORROBORATED
Daily Mail Online and other reports specifically state that Brigitte Macron's entourage claimed she never looks at her husband's mobile phone.
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web search NEUTRAL — 'Brigitte Macron categorically denied this account directly to the author on March 5, specifying that she never looks at her husband's mobile phone,' the president's entourage said, adding that this d…
https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15813999/Brigitte-Mac…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — NEW: Brigitte Macron representative denies new claim that she slapped her husband after she found a message on his phone with an Iranian actress.
https://thenationalpulse.com/2026/05/14/brigitte-macron-slap…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Brigitte Macron, Emmanuel Macron, Golshifteh Farahani drama sparks social media reactions. One widely shared post stated: "You know, I've seen multiple tv shows (Emily in Paris and of course I'm now f…
https://www.oneindia.com/international/i-find-you-very-prett…
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Claim 9: “Brigitte Macron's entourage denied to Le Parisien this Wednesday that the incident was linked to the actress.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources report that Brigitte Macron's representatives/entourage denied the link between the incident and the actress.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 21 hours ago · A new French book has triggered controversy after claiming that French President Emmanuel Macron exchanged private messages with Iranian-French actress Golshifteh Farahani and that the …
https://www.news18.com/world/very-pretty-was-macrons-text-to…
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web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · Fresh rumours surrounding Emmanuel Macron, Brigitte Macron and actress Golshifteh Farahani have exploded across French media after reports attempted to link the couple’s viral “slap” contr…
https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/was-actress-golshift…
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web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · French journalist Florian Tardif alleges, based on unnamed sources close to the couple, that Brigitte Macron confronted her husband during a flight to Vietnam in May 2025 after discovering…
https://www.europesays.com/people/70017/
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Claim 10: “French journalist Florian Tardif claimed in his new book Un Couple (Presque) Parfait (An (Almost) Perfect Couple) that whilst the relationship between Farahani and the French president was "platonic," he alleged the French leader sent the message "I find you very pretty" to the actress.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent news sources (IBTimes UK, News18, and other reports) confirm that Florian Tardif's book 'Un Couple (Presque) Parfait' alleges Macron sent a message saying 'I find you very pretty' to Farahani.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 'I find you very pretty,' Emmanuel reportedly texted Farahani, according to Tardif's book serialised in Paris Match. The steamy exchange reportedly led to a 'dispute [that was] longer and harsher than…
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/allegations-flirty-texts-slap-fren…
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web search NEUTRAL — Book Un Couple Presque Parfait alleges Macron exchanged messages with Golshifteh Farahani, links them to a 2025 Hanoi slap, but Brigitte Macron and Farahani deny any affair. font. reset.
https://www.news18.com/world/very-pretty-was-macrons-text-to…
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web search NEUTRAL — Tardif’s book claimed the argument was linked to Brigitte Macron allegedly seeing messages involving Farahani during the flight. According to the author, tensions between the couple escalated before t…
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/i-find…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.