A recent photo of French President Emmanuel Macron and Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera has ignited a social media storm. The image, which captures Macron and Oudea-Castera in a close embrace and kiss during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, was first published by the French magazine Madame Figaro and has since gone viral.
The photo shows Oudea-Castera, 46, leaning in to kiss Macron near his neck. Macron, also 46, appears to accept the affectionate gesture warmly. Meanwhile, France’s Prime Minister Gabriel Attal is visibly looking away from the scene. The intimate display has drawn mixed reactions from the public and media, with some comparing it to a lover’s embrace and questioning the appropriateness of the gesture.
Comments on social media have ranged from disapproval to bemusement. One user commented, “Gabriel Attal, he pretends to look elsewhere! He doesn’t know where to stand,” while another remarked, “It’s my lover that I’m kissing like this. Embarrassing.” A third user on X described the photo as “indecent” and not fitting for a president and minister.
The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, which took place on Friday, was a grand affair, featuring a six-kilometer parade on the Seine with 7,500 competitors aboard 85 boats. The event, lasting four hours, culminated in a breathtaking finale with the Olympic flame rising into the sky and Celine Dion performing from the Eiffel Tower. This high-profile event marked a significant moment for Macron, coming after a period of political turbulence, including a snap parliamentary election triggered by concerns over the far-right’s potential rise.
The photo’s publication has intensified scrutiny and debate over the personal and professional boundaries of public figures, as the ceremony’s festive atmosphere contrasts sharply with the controversies surrounding the image.
Sources By Agencies
