My Wife Didn’t Slap Me — We Were Just Playing, Says Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron has brushed off a viral video showing what appeared to be a physical altercation between him and First Lady Brigitte Macron as nothing more than harmless play. The footage, which surfaced as the couple arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Sunday, showed Brigitte seemingly pushing the president in the face just as their plane door opened to waiting cameras.

The clip quickly ignited a media frenzy and fueled online speculation about a possible domestic spat, but Macron was quick to dispel the rumours.

“We were just horsing around, joking with my wife,” Macron told reporters on Monday, adding that the situation was being exaggerated to sensational levels. “It becomes a sort of geo-planetary catastrophe,” he quipped.

The president’s office backed the clarification, describing the moment as one of “complicity” between the couple. “It was simply a decompressing moment before the official start of the trip. Sadly, it was all the conspiracy theorists needed.”

In the video, a uniformed crew member opens the aircraft door to reveal Macron inside. Two red-sleeved arms — Brigitte’s — appear to reach out, placing one hand over his mouth and nose and the other on his jaw, prompting Macron to recoil before quickly smiling and waving as he notices the cameras.

When the couple later emerged fully from the plane, Macron offered his wife his arm — which she declined — as they descended the stairs side by side, sparking even more debate about body language and tension.

This isn’t the first time Macron has had to swat away rumours from viral footage. He also referenced previous clips falsely accusing him of sharing cocaine on a train or engaging in a diplomatic row. “None of these are true,” he said, calling for calm amid the online noise.

Despite the dramatic framing by sections of the media, Macron insists the clip is being misunderstood and insists the presidential couple’s relationship remains as strong as ever.

The Macrons, who have been married since 2007, first met when Emmanuel was a high school student and Brigitte his drama teacher. Their long-standing and often-scrutinised relationship continues to attract both intrigue and commentary — especially when the cameras are rolling.