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Topics: Emmanuel Macron, France, Politics, Viral, World News
Liv Bridge
A body language expert has broken down French president Emmanuel Macron's response in the seconds after his wife appeared to 'slap' him.
On Sunday (May 25), the French president's bewildered face went viral as his wife Brigitte appeared to 'push' his face, with both hands, just as the presidential plane doors opened in what appears comedic timing for their arrival in Hanoi, Vietnam.
While Macron appeared stunned at the top of the stairs of the jet, his 72-year-old wife was hidden behind the jet's fuselage, so we couldn't hear or see what exactly led up to the stern-looking shove - only her hands planting on his face.
The couple then disembarked from the plane, with Brigitte appearing to give Macron a cold shoulder by refusing to take his arm on the walk down.
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The 47-year-old French politician has since shrugged off rumors that the pair were in a bit of a spat, saying that it was just harmless 'joking' around.
However, a professional lip reader seemed to find otherwise, saying Macron appeared 'uncomfortable' in the split second after the push before composing himself for the cameras.
Speaking to The Express, the analyst said things turned 'icy again' as the couple conversed down the stairs, with Brigitte reportedly telling her husband: "Stay away, you loser."
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Now, a body language expert has weighed in on the matter, saying the pair's subsequent tour around Hanoi has been piled on with 'shovels-full of good behaviour' - apparently in 'a bid to prove nothing is wrong'.
Speaking to Daily Mail, Judi James explained: "Their non-verbal signals here border on the 'overkill', suggesting some levels of panic and a desperation to pretend all is well and to maybe tie in with the ridiculous claims of 'playing' together on the plane."
She said their response to the media storm in the aftermath of the incident gives off body language that looks like 'a bride and groom on their wedding day'.
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The couple, linked arm-in-arm while touring the University of Science and Technology in Hanoi, appeared in good spirits for the cameras.
"Macron's chest is puffed to suggest his favored alpha state and his arm is crooked in a gesture of old-fashioned gentlemanliness," James added.
"Brigitte is suddenly in a more sweetly submissive pose with her hand hooked into her husband's arm to suggest he is the dominant one in the relationship while she is more 'surrendered wife'.
"It's over-performed and unlikely to throw enough 'litter' over the shocking scene that was shown around the world," she concluded.
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The comments come as the lip reader pointed out Brigitte snubbed Macron from taking his arm when leaving the jet, and after her apparently cut-throat comment, dismissed him again when he allegedly asked: "Let's try, please?"
She reportedly replied rather curtly: "Non."
The lip reader added: "His closing expression, and the phrase lipread as 'Je vois' translated in english 'I see,' says it all.
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"Hot Take: A rare unguarded exchange that hints at deeper tensions between the couple. One to watch, especially with a packed diplomatic schedule ahead.”
However, Macron and An Elysée official have tried to swat the rumors away.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, the president said: "We are squabbling and, rather, joking with my wife."
He further described the media frenzy around the incident as disproportionate, calling it 'sort of geo-planetary catastrophe.'
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"Everyone needs to calm down," he added.
The official also said it was a 'moment' where the pair were 'decompressing one last time before the start of the trip by horsing around'.
"It’s a moment of complicity. It was all that was needed to give ammunition to the conspiracy theorists.”