French President Emmanuel Macron is shrugging off a viral video that appears to show his wife, Brigitte, playfully pushing his face. The incident happened as they arrived at an airport in Vietnam.
Macron says they were just joking around. He told reporters, “We were just teasing each other.” The video shows Brigitte using both hands to push his face. Macron then steps back, looks surprised, and smiles for the camera.
The video sparked a lot of discussion in France. Some media outlets wondered if the Macrons were arguing. But the president insists they were just having fun. He thinks people are making a big deal out of nothing.
After the incident, Macron and Brigitte stood together on the plane’s stairs. He offered her his arm, but she didn’t take it. They then walked down the stairs side by side.
Macron is using this incident to talk about the risks of misinformation on social media. He says people need to calm down and not jump to conclusions.
The Macrons have a unique story. They met when Emmanuel was in high school, and Brigitte was his drama teacher. He promised to marry her, but then had to move to Paris for school. Brigitte eventually moved to Paris too, divorced her husband, and married Emmanuel.
This story was first reported by AP News.