Macron ‘slap’ was sparked by texts with Iranian actress, book claims • FRANCE 24 English

Key Concepts

• AI-Generated Disinformation: The use of artificial intelligence to create fabricated media (deepfakes) to lend credibility to unsubstantiated rumors.
• Tabloid Journalism: Sensationalist reporting that often relies on unverified sources or speculation regarding the private lives of public figures.
• Elysée Palace: The official residence and office of the President of France; used here to denote the official administration.
• Platonic Relationship: A non-sexual, intimate relationship between two people.
• Verification/Fact-Checking: The process of cross-referencing claims against official sources and digital evidence to debunk misinformation.

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1. The AI-Generated Disinformation Campaign

A fake magazine cover, purportedly from the tabloid Closer, has been circulating on social media. The image depicts French President Emmanuel Macron and Franco-Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani.

• Technical Verification: The image is confirmed to be AI-generated. It does not exist on the official Closer website, and the visual quality/tagging indicates synthetic origin.
• Narrative: The fake cover alleges that French First Lady Brigitte Macron discovered a relationship between the two and issued an ultimatum to the President.

2. Allegations from "An Almost Perfect Couple"

The disinformation campaign is anchored in claims made in a new book, An Almost Perfect Couple, authored by Florian Tardif, a journalist for Paris Match.

• Author Credentials: Tardif claims to have followed the Macrons since 2017 and is part of the accredited press circle at the Elysée Palace.
• Core Allegations: The book claims President Macron maintained a platonic relationship with Farahani for several months. It cites anonymous sources claiming the President sent messages to the actress, including one stating, "I find you very pretty."
• The "Hanoi Incident": The book links these alleged text messages to a viral video from 2023, where Brigitte Macron appeared to shove the President while disembarking from a plane in Hanoi. Tardif claims this physical altercation was the result of Brigitte discovering these specific text messages on her husband's phone.

3. Official Responses and Denials

The Elysée Palace and the First Lady’s entourage have addressed the claims, albeit indirectly:

• The "Hanoi Incident" Context: At the time of the 2023 incident, the Elysée Palace dismissed the viral footage as "banter" between the couple, warning that alternative interpretations were fueling conspiracy theories. President Macron personally denied any domestic dispute.
• Direct Denials:
  • Brigitte Macron’s Entourage: Informed Le Parisien and Politico that the First Lady categorically denies the allegations. They specifically stated that she does not check her husband’s phone and that the Hanoi incident was entirely unrelated to the actress.
  • Golshifteh Farahani: The actress has previously dismissed these rumors, telling Gala magazine that such gossip "comes in waves" and does not bother her.

4. Methodology of Rumor Propagation

The report highlights a specific pattern in how these rumors spread:

1. Digital Origin: Rumors regarding Macron and Farahani first appeared in 2024, primarily propagated by Iranian accounts on the platform X (formerly Twitter).
2. Media Amplification: These online rumors were subsequently codified into a book by a journalist, providing a veneer of legitimacy.
3. Synthetic Reinforcement: AI-generated imagery was then used to visualize the claims, making them more "shareable" and convincing to social media users.

5. Synthesis and Conclusion

Despite the sensational nature of the claims and the use of AI to manufacture visual "proof," the impact within France remains minimal. The report concludes that the French public generally views the personal lives of politicians as private matters, prioritizing policy over tabloid-style speculation. The lack of official reaction from the President himself reflects a strategy of ignoring unsubstantiated claims to avoid granting them further credibility. The primary takeaway is the increasing danger of AI-generated media being used to weaponize existing rumors, even when those rumors lack factual foundation.