France’s first couple, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron, have continued to enchant and intrigue the world over the past five years. Their extraordinary love story still sparks interest today. Emmanuel fell in love with Brigitte when he was just 15 years old. At the time, she was his drama instructor at a private institution in Amiens. Brigitte’s unconventional marriage to Macron has elicited widespread fascination and speculation. The huge age difference of 24 years raised eyebrows, notably when it was made public during his successful presidential campaign in 2017.
When they first connected, Brigitte Macron was married with three children. Nonetheless, Emmanuel promised to marry her before he graduated from primary school. His promise reflected the great sense of responsibility he had taken, even from a young age. Their relationship grew into a strong marriage that evolved into what they both call an unusual but loving modern family arrangement.
As the graceful couple surfed the waves of a new life together, they smiled for cover shots for sumptuous magazines that heralded their new betrothal. These features served to underscore their connection and the uniqueness of their romantic relationship. As international correspondent Thierry Arnaud recently noted, Macron’s paradigm-shattering romance with Brigitte has never failed to operate as his “shiny badge of honor.” This connection builds on his reputation for being politically and personally daring.
Recently, yet again, Brigitte Macron fell victim to deeply rooted conspiracy theories. Conservative commentator Candace Owens recently took up these ante-Faith claims in March, when she argued that she was a man. These claims are completely disconnected from reality and continue a now-familiar pattern of dangerous and deliberate misinformation. Brigitte fought back against the bad press and miraculously won a lawsuit against two French ladies. She pointed out how pernicious and harmful these fibs are to folks’ day to day lives.
Emmanuel Macron addressed the impact of these rumors in a public statement:
“People end up believing them, and it disrupts your life, even in your most private moments.” – Emmanuel Macron
The trip became a lightning rod for criticism when a rude TikTok went viral. Included was the one of Brigitte shoving Emmanuel’s head away as he prepared to disembark on their recent trip to Vietnam. Incredibly, that footage ran for just 24 hours on French national news channels. It didn’t even crack the front pages the following morning. Instead, the couple used the opportunity to highlight their unbreakable relationship. Soon after, they found themselves walking hand in hand through the bustling streets of Hanoi.
This incident comes against the backdrop of France’s media landscape, which traditionally refrains from delving deeply into politicians’ private lives. Unlike in the United States, where private escapades regularly fill front pages, French media have kept a respectful arm’s length. This unspoken norm serves to protect the personal lives of most politicians. Politicians such as François Mitterrand and Dominique Strauss-Kahn have enjoyed this veil of secrecy.
This tradition may be evolving. Thierry Arnaud remarked that over time, “these kinds of personal stories have become far more difficult to contain than they were 30 or even 20 years ago.” Engagement in this rapidly changing media landscape is essential. As more stories from politicians’ personal lives emerge – or are forced into the light – Americans will broaden their mindsets towards them.
