A new book by Florian Tardif has brought to light the speculations surrounding a presumed relationship between Emmanuel Macron and actress Golshifteh Farahani, claiming that exchanges of private messages would have “gone quite far.” The journalist links these messages to the viral scene of a slap during the couple’s arrival in Vietnam in May 2025, reigniting the rumor at the heart of the news.
In brief: the book discusses private SMS and a phrase quoted by the author, anonymous witnesses from the entourage, the absence of compromising photos, and the circulation of images generated by AI that have fueled speculations. For sources and official reactions, several media outlets have covered the affair and the denials from the Élysée.
What the book claims about the supposed relationship
Florian Tardif, a journalist at Paris Match, asserts that messages exchanged “over several months” between Emmanuel Macron and Golshifteh Farahani included affectionate phrases, notably stating “I find you very pretty.” The investigation relies on anonymous testimonies gathered from the couple’s surroundings, according to the author. These elements rekindle the public debate on the boundary between private life and politics. For more details on the publication and content, see the recent media coverage.
The slap of May 2025 and media impact
The viral video showing Brigitte Macron slapping the president’s face was filmed during the boarding of a presidential plane in Vietnam in May 2025. The Élysée first denied, then referred to it as “a squabble,” provoking a communication deemed chaotic. The book claims that this scene was triggered by the discovery of the messages. National media have extensively commented on these elements, amplifying the celebrity effect around a political subject.
Transparency, private life, and limits of proof
The controversy raises the question of transparency for a head of state and respect for private life. Historically, revelations about François Mitterrand and then about François Hollande have redefined the debate in France. Here, there are no photos attesting to a relationship, and several images shared on social media are derived from artificial intelligence. Journalists emphasize the lack of material evidence before drawing conclusions.
What sources say and public responses
The book is based on anonymous testimonies and on the author’s interviews, including his appearance on May 13 on RTL. The couple’s entourage has denied the public version according to the Élysée, and Golshifteh Farahani has already denied rumors in the tabloids. For an overview of reactions and press articles, one can consult the analyses published recently.
To learn more about the connections between these revelations and the political microcosm, and to discover elements about the entourage like Sébastien Auzière, visit the dedicated file and also find press reports like that from Euronews coverage or the detailed article on La Voix du Nord to delve deeper into the rumor and its developments.
