French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron were caught in a heated argument in May last year, which was captured on camera and quickly went viral. According to a new biography, the altercation was triggered by Brigitte Macron seeing a message from Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani on her husband’s phone, in which he reportedly praised her as ‘jolie’ (pretty) and ‘magnifique’ (magnificent).

The $30 million toe in the water

Florian Tardif’s biography, ‘Un Couple (Presque) Parfait — An (Almost) Perfect Couple,’ has sparked a media frenzy in France, topping the bestseller list after its release. The book claims that Brigitte Macron has been vigilant about younger women in her husband’s orbit,including a female intern who allegedly tried to ‘use seduction to get what she wanted’—a job at the Élysée Palace. According to the report, Brigitte Macron expedited the intern’s departure and later dismissed another female adviser.

Why 4,000 unsold units became the prize

The incident at Hanoi airport was not an isolated event. Tardif’s book suggests that Brigitte Macron has a history of reacting strongly to perceived threats to her marriage. The first lady’s representatives have denied the claims, stating that she would never check her husband’s phone. However, the book’s allegations have added fuel to the fire of speculation surrounding the Macron’s marriage.

An echo of Sydney’s 2024 institutional buy-up

Golshifteh Farahani, the Iranian actress at the center of the controversy, has previously dismissed rumors about her relationship with Macron. In an interview with Gala magazine, she stated, ‘It comes in waves, it appears, disappears...I watch, I observe: what can I do? It doesn’t even bother me. What’s the point?’ Farahani, who now lives in exile after refusing to wear a hijab while acting in international films, has been a prominent figure in the entertainment industry since her role in the 2008 film ‘Body of Lies’ alongside Leonardo DiCaprio.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

The Macron’s marriage has been a subject of public fascination since the beginning of Emmanuel Macron’s political career. The couple’s age gap—Brigitte Macron is 24 years older than her husband—has been a topic of discussion, with some speculating that their relationship is more complex than it appears. The new biography has only added to the intrigue, with many questioning the true nature of the Macron’s relationship.

What auditors flagged in the May filing

Despite the controversy, the Macron’s have maintained that their marriage is strong. in a radio interview, Tardif suggested that the Élysée regretted not being honest about the dispute, stating that it could have shown the public that the Macron’s are a ‘real couple, not a perfect couple.’ However, the first lady’s representatives have denied the claims, stating that the slap was not linked to the Iranian actress.