During a state visit to Vietnam, French President Emmanuel Macron downplayed a viral video of his wife seemingly shoving him, labeling the exaggerated reactions as disinformation.
Macron Dismisses Controversy Over Viral Video with Wife as ‘Nonsense’
Macron Dismisses Controversy Over Viral Video with Wife as ‘Nonsense’
President Emmanuel Macron addresses the uproar from a video showing Brigitte Macron pushing him in the face, calling it a harmless joke.
In a recent incident, French President Emmanuel Macron found himself at the center of a media frenzy following the release of a video showing his wife, Brigitte Macron, playfully pushing him in the face as they exited a plane in Vietnam. The incident, captured on camera, sparked various interpretations as it quickly circulated online, leading to wild speculations about their relationship.
In response to the viral footage, Macron clarified that it was merely a lighthearted interaction, saying the couple often engages in playful banter. Expressing disbelief at the level of attention the video received, he remarked, “I’m surprised by it, it turns into some kind of global catastrophe where people are even coming up with theories to explain it. It’s nonsense.”
Macron emphasized that while the video accurately reflected the moment, the surrounding interpretations were fabricated. He linked the uproar to a broader trend of disinformation targeting him, referencing similar instances that have occurred recently, including misinterpretations of innocuous images involving him and other leaders.
The French president recounted a previous trip to Kyiv with other European leaders, where a simple tissue caused an online uproar, being incorrectly described as illicit substances by some social media outlets. The Élysée Palace had to publicly refute these claims, affirming the need for vigilance against such disinformation.
Macron further criticized the narrative surrounding a greeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and noted the ongoing manipulation of events to detract from real issues. Despite his denial of any serious implications of the video, conservative media figures in France seized on the story, suggesting it hinted at deeper issues within Macron's marriage.
As the discourse continues to unfold, Macron urges citizens and media alike to focus on pressing matters of governance rather than baseless speculations and sensationalism.
In response to the viral footage, Macron clarified that it was merely a lighthearted interaction, saying the couple often engages in playful banter. Expressing disbelief at the level of attention the video received, he remarked, “I’m surprised by it, it turns into some kind of global catastrophe where people are even coming up with theories to explain it. It’s nonsense.”
Macron emphasized that while the video accurately reflected the moment, the surrounding interpretations were fabricated. He linked the uproar to a broader trend of disinformation targeting him, referencing similar instances that have occurred recently, including misinterpretations of innocuous images involving him and other leaders.
The French president recounted a previous trip to Kyiv with other European leaders, where a simple tissue caused an online uproar, being incorrectly described as illicit substances by some social media outlets. The Élysée Palace had to publicly refute these claims, affirming the need for vigilance against such disinformation.
Macron further criticized the narrative surrounding a greeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and noted the ongoing manipulation of events to detract from real issues. Despite his denial of any serious implications of the video, conservative media figures in France seized on the story, suggesting it hinted at deeper issues within Macron's marriage.
As the discourse continues to unfold, Macron urges citizens and media alike to focus on pressing matters of governance rather than baseless speculations and sensationalism.
