You will discover what the release of Florian Tardif’s book reveals and why the name Golshifteh Farahani arises at the heart of a controversy. The journalist suggests that a so-called “platonic” relationship and some private messages would explain the famous slap filmed upon disembarking from an airplane in May 2025.
In his book released on May 13, 2026, Florian Tardif presents the version that Brigitte Macron may have seen a message sent by Golshifteh Farahani to the president during the flight to Hanoi, provoking a long argument before the scene captured by the Associated Press. The Élysée then spoke of a “moment of complicity,” while the First Lady’s entourage categorically denied having looked at the president’s phone. The book cites exchanges described as “intimate but platonic” and reports phrases like “I find you very pretty,” according to close associates. These elements have reignited rumors that first emerged in the summer of 2024 and were amplified in the spring of 2025, despite the actress’s public and ironic responses in the press. For a detailed context of the revelations and the chronology, see the investigation published by l’Internaute and the media account from La Voix du Nord.
What the book specifically says and the public facts
Florian Tardif describes a sequence: a message seen in the cabin, a prolonged argument, and then the scene globally relayed on May 30, 2025, at the Hanoi airport. The journalist avoids discussing a physical affair but mentions a verbal closeness and exchanges that “went quite far,” according to confidences from associates. The release of the video by the Associated Press sparked a debate about the intimacy of public figures and the boundary between private life and politics. Insight: these revelations raise questions about the media management of a presidential couple.
The reaction of Golshifteh Farahani and those close to her
The Franco-Iranian actress has repeatedly denied any romantic story with the president, ironically responding to the rumors during an interview in August 2025. Brigitte Macron’s entourage has also rejected the book’s thesis, stating that the First Lady “never looks at her husband’s phone.” These public denials do not prevent the persistence of media speculation, but they remind us of the importance of verifying sources before exposing intimacy to the public. Insight: each person’s reputation remains at the center of the debate.
Political stakes and media fallout
The scene of the slap has been internationally commented on, sometimes in a risqué manner, and has fueled controversies even in foreign media. For the political class, these revelations raise questions about the confidentiality of exchanges and the presidential image. Media tensions benefit tabloids but complicate the daily life of the presidential couple, exposed to constant public attention. Insight: the controversy shows how quickly intimacy can turn into a state affair.
For more on the denials and official reactions surrounding the slap, see Marie Claire. If you want to know more about Sébastien Auzière and the Macron family, read the viewpoint and available archives on Brigitte’s denial and the analysis of their relationship on Sebastien-Auziere.fr.
