People are just realizing how French president Macron and his wife first met amid viral ‘slap’ incident

People online are just now learning how French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, first met—and it’s causing a lot of discussion, especially after a video of her appearing to slap him went viral. The clip, filmed as the couple arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, showed Brigitte Macron pushing or lightly hitting President Macron on the arm. Many people assumed it was a serious moment, but Macron later explained they were only joking around.

This moment has led many to dig into their relationship and discover how it all began. According to reports, Emmanuel Macron first met Brigitte in 1993 when he was just 15 years old and she was 39. At the time, Macron was a student at a private secondary school called La Providence in northern France. Brigitte was a teacher at the same school, where she taught both French and drama.

Back then, Brigitte was married to a banker named André Auzière, and she had three children. During drama class, she and Macron developed a connection. According to biographer Anne Fulda, who wrote *Emmanuel Macron: A Perfect Young Man*, Macron’s parents at first believed he was dating one of Brigitte’s daughters. But they were shocked when they found out from a family friend that their teenage son was actually involved with his teacher.

His parents didn’t take the news lightly. Macron’s mother, Françoise Nogues-Macron, said they were in disbelief. She explained that it wasn’t something a parent could just accept happily. Macron’s father, Jean-Michel Macron, agreed, saying they definitely didn’t celebrate when they found out about the relationship.

In response, they removed Emmanuel from the school. His mother later admitted that, in the end, what mattered most was that her son was healthy and safe. However, she did express concern to Brigitte, saying that Emmanuel would likely not have children if he stayed with her, as Brigitte had already lived that part of her life. When the parents asked Brigitte to stay away from Emmanuel until he turned 18, she reportedly responded, “I cannot promise you anything.”

Brigitte has also opened up about their relationship. In a 2017 interview with Elle magazine, she said that their love story developed very slowly. When Macron moved to Paris to continue his studies at Lycée Henri-IV, he promised to return and marry her—and he kept that promise. They stayed in touch through constant letters, and both slowly helped their families come to terms with the relationship.

In 2007, the couple married. Macron was 29 years old, and Brigitte was 54. Over the years, they have addressed rumors and criticism, especially about the 24-year age gap. Brigitte said they laugh about it privately and don’t let other people’s opinions affect them. To her, whatever people say is just meaningless talk.

Despite the controversy and unusual beginnings, the couple has stayed strong, supporting each other through Macron’s rise to becoming president and throughout his time in office.