French President Emmanuel Macron’s Kiss with Sports Minister Sparks Controversy at 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/31st July 2024
A recent photo of French President Emmanuel Macron and his Sports Minister, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, has generated significant buzz following the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics. The image, capturing a seemingly intimate moment between the two officials, shows Oudéa-Castéra, 46, placing a kiss on Macron’s neck while holding him closely with one arm and gripping his arm with the other. French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal is also visible in the background, appearing to look away from the scene.
This particular moment has captured the public’s attention, amassing over 4 million views on the social media platform X. The photo has prompted a wave of discussion, with reactions ranging from surprise to criticism, despite the cultural context of kissing being a common practice in France. Social media users have expressed various opinions, with some feeling that the kiss crossed the line of customary behavior into what they perceived as “indecent.”
One user commented, “It’s my lover that I’m kissing like this. Embarrassing,” reflecting a sentiment of discomfort about the perceived intimacy of the gesture. Another observer noted, “I find this photo indecent; it’s not worthy of a president and a minister,” highlighting concerns about the appropriateness of the display given the formal context. Meanwhile, a more humorous take came from a social media user who joked about Oudéa-Castéra’s affection for Macron, stating, “Amélie Oudéa-Castéra greedily kissing Macron. At least one who loves her boss, that’s nice to see.”
The photo has also sparked playful speculation about the reaction of Macron’s wife, Brigitte Macron, with memes circulating that imagine her response to the kiss. The image was first brought to public attention by French magazine Madame Figaro, which remarked on Oudéa-Castéra’s ability to stir conversation with her actions.
While kissing is a common gesture in French culture, this particular moment at the global stage of the Olympics has led to a heightened level of scrutiny and debate. The incident underscores the complexities of public figures navigating personal and professional boundaries in the spotlight of international events.
