Official version

It seems that the world is often quick to judge a successful and flourishing real-life love story, such as the rock-solid bond between Emmanuel Macron, 48, and his wife Brigitte Macron, 73 (“Brigitte Macron denies claims she slapped French president over actress Golshifteh Farahani’s texts,” May15, Gulf Today website).

The unending speculation surrounding a video clip that caused a stir in May last year — in which Brigitte Macron appeared to push the French president as they prepared to disembark from a plane during a state visit to Vietnam — unfortunately continues to make headlines. Such incidents are often taken out of context and exaggerated without proper understanding of the situation.

I sincerely hope these rumours will finally come to an end following the official statement from Brigitte Macron, in which she firmly denied claims that she slapped the president over alleged messages involving actress Golshifteh Farahani.

In this episode, Golshifteh Farahani has also become a target of unnecessary attention. While the controversy may have brought her publicity, it is unfair that individuals are dragged into speculation without evidence.

Social media has undoubtedly transformed the world and remains one of the greatest technological innovations of our time. However, it also has a darker side. Keyboard warriors often misuse these platforms to intrude into personal lives and spread unverified claims, which is truly unfortunate.

Junaid Aslam,
By email