French First Lady Brigitte Macron has firmly denied allegations linking a previously reported on-camera altercation with President Emmanuel Macron to claims about his alleged relationship with an actress, according to a person close to her.


The source, who was granted anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, told POLITICO that Brigitte Macron “has categorically denied” assertions that the incident stemmed from revelations about a purported relationship involving the French president.


The claims were outlined in a newly released book, “An (almost) perfect couple,” by Paris Match journalist Florian Tardif, which went on sale on Wednesday. In the book, Tardif alleges that Brigitte Macron “lost her temper” while the couple was aboard a plane in Vietnam after allegedly discovering, by mistake, a message on her husband’s phone from Iranian-French actress Golshifteh Farahani.


Speaking on RTL radio on Wednesday, May 13, Tardif further claimed that President Macron maintained a “platonic relationship” with Farahani over several months. However, he added that some of the exchanges — which he said were forwarded to him by individuals close to Macron — “went quite far.”


According to Tardif, one of the messages sent to Farahani read: “I find you very attractive.”


The Élysée Palace has not issued a formal response to the latest claims. Initially, officials had described reports of the alleged slap as “fake news,” later characterising the incident as “horseplay.” A separate individual close to President Macron, also speaking on condition of anonymity, reiterated that Brigitte Macron’s team rejects the allegations.


President Macron himself previously downplayed the incident, stating last year that it had been exaggerated and that he was “joking with [his] wife.” Despite this, the episode drew widespread international media attention, with even US President Donald Trump making light of it in remarks last month.


Golshifteh Farahani has earlier dismissed rumours suggesting a relationship with Macron, though she has not publicly commented on the claims presented in Tardif’s book.


By Tamilla Hasanova