Brigitte Macron slap controversy: Would we be laughing if Emmanuel Macron had done it?

A short video clip. A split-second gesture. A whole internet full of opinions.

If you’ve been anywhere near social media in the past week, you’ve probably seen the now-viral video of Brigitte Macron, the First Lady of France, appearing to give her husband, President Emmanuel Macron, a quick slap or shove to the face as they disembarked from a plane in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The moment was brief but dramatic. No words, no context, just a hand to the face, a bit of physical tension, and a whole lot of questions. And as expected, the internet did what it always does — it exploded into memes, jokes, and hot takes.

But amid the memes and mockery, it’s worth pausing to ask: What if the roles were reversed?

Would we still be laughing?
The incident that started it all

To set the scene: The Macrons were arriving in Vietnam for an official diplomatic visit. Cameras were rolling, photographers were snapping away, and just as they stepped off the plane, Brigitte appeared to give her husband a firm nudge — a quick hand to the cheek. It wasn’t a dramatic slap, but it was enough to catch attention.

The Élysée Palace was quick to downplay the incident, calling it a “playful” moment between a long-married couple. Some reports suggested it happened after a bit of bickering on the plane, and the general messaging from official sources was: “Relax, everyone. They were just goofing around.”

And maybe they were. Maybe it really was just a harmless moment between two people who’ve been together a long time. We’ve all had those small, emotionally charged moments with our partners — a sarcastic comment, a roll of the eyes, a playful shove. Relationships are human, and sometimes messy.

But still, the moment struck a nerve.

Why is everyone laughing?
The video took off like wildfire on platforms like Twitter (or X), TikTok, and Instagram. Within hours, memes were popping up everywhere.

One user wrote:

“A president, having a veto power in the #UNSC is not enough to get respect.”

Another wrote: “A leader like Emmanuel Macron gets slapped by his wife. Meanwhile, I am a normal person. It’s unusual for me not to get slapped by my wife.”

It became an internet moment. A joke. A trend. Everyone had something to say.

But here’s the thing — most of it was laughter. Jokes. Sarcasm. A collective shrug.

Now imagine this: the clip is exactly the same, except it’s Emmanuel Macron who raises his hand to Brigitte. The same gesture, same body language, same public setting.

Still funny?
Probably not. In fact, it would be an international scandal. Headlines would scream “Domestic Abuse!”. Hashtags like #StandWithBrigitte would trend. Commentators would (rightfully) call out toxic masculinity, power dynamics, and the dangers of normalizing male aggression.

And they’d be right.

So the question becomes: Why do we treat it differently when a woman hits a man?

The double standard that no one wants to talk about
Violence — even small, “playful” gestures — is often judged differently depending on who’s doing it.

If a man slaps his wife in public, it sets off alarms. It’s taken seriously, as it should be. There’s an immediate awareness that something could be wrong, that it may be a sign of abuse or emotional instability. Society jumps in to protect the victim.

But when a woman does it to a man? We laugh. We call it cute, sassy, or empowering.

And while we don’t need to catastrophize every moment of a couple's tension, it’s worth reflecting on the inconsistency in how we respond. Physical gestures like slaps or shoves — even if they aren’t meant to hurt — can carry emotional weight. They can be signs of deeper issues. And they shouldn't be dismissed just because of the gender of the person doing it.

Equality isn’t just about giving equal power — it’s about holding everyone to the same standards.

What about the Macrons?
Let’s be clear — there’s no evidence to suggest that this was anything more than a harmless, slightly testy moment between Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron. They’ve been married since 2007, and despite the constant media attention (and the 24-year age gap), they’ve always presented a united front.

Still, that doesn’t mean we can’t take the opportunity to reflect on how we treat moments like this.

Because once a video goes viral, it’s no longer about the people in it — it becomes a mirror held up to the world, showing us how we react, what we find funny, what we excuse, and what we condemn.

Why this moment matters
In an era where conversations around gender, power, and violence are more important than ever, even small moments like this one matter.

Think about how many men are victims of domestic violence and never speak up because they fear being laughed at or dismissed.

Now think about the message we send when we laugh at a woman slapping a man in public.

Humor is fine. Jokes are fine. But they shouldn’t come at the cost of consistency, fairness, or empathy.

Final thoughts
The Brigitte Macron slap moment may fade from headlines in a few days — most viral moments do. But the questions it raises are worth sticking with.

Would we laugh if Macron slapped her? No.

So why do we laugh when she does it?

As we continue to strive for a more equal world, let’s remember that equality cuts both ways. Respect and accountability aren’t gendered — they’re universal.

So next time we see a moment like this go viral, maybe pause before sharing that meme or typing out that joke. Ask: Would I think this is funny if the roles were reversed?

If the answer is no, maybe it’s not that funny after all.