PRESS RELEASE
Contact: G. Lawrence DeMarco, LLM
Email: ldemarco@menandboys.net
Phone: +1-215-901-1930
What If President Macron Had Hit Her? A Global Blind Spot in Domestic Violence Awareness
June 2, 2025 — A recent incident involving French President Emmanuel Macron has drawn global concern following the circulation of video footage showing a forceful slap to the face by his wife, Brigitte Macron. (1) While initial reports downplayed the event as an “apparent shove,” real-time footage reveals an unexpected and jolting strike — one that visibly startled and stunned President Macron.
Rather than acknowledging the gravity of the moment, Macron quickly dismissed the altercation as playful “squabbling.” (2) Such minimization is not uncommon among male victims of domestic violence, many of whom face cultural, legal, and social barriers when attempting to report abuse. Macron’s reaction exemplifies the societal tendency to overlook male victimization, particularly when perpetrated by women. (3)
Social media reactions to the incident were largely humorous, with many users joking about the slap and sharing memes that trivialized the incident. (4) Yet if the roles had been reversed — if President Macron had struck his wife — such responses would have been replaced with outrage and calls for legal action. (5)
Alarmingly, the Council of Europe’s Convention of Istanbul on combating domestic violence inexplicably excludes the recognition of male victims. (6) This absence of legal acknowledgment undermines gender equality and contributes to ongoing institutional neglect.
Numerous international studies have found that men experience intimate partner abuse at rates similar to women, including psychological manipulation, coercive control, and physical assault. Yet, male victims frequently encounter systemic neglect, with far fewer shelters, legal resources, and public support services available to them. (7)
ICMB calls on lawmakers, human rights advocates, and international bodies to reform outdated legal frameworks and ensure equal protection for all victims of abuse, regardless of sex. Until society acknowledges male suffering and builds inclusive support systems, boys and men will continue to endure violence without voice or remedy.
The International Council for Men and Boys is a non-governmental organization that is working to celebrate the contributions of men to society and to end the 12 sex disparities that affect men and boys around the world. Achieving #GenderEqualityForMen will also benefit women. https://www.menandboys.net/
Links:
(2) https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/26/world/europe/macron-wife-brigitte-shove-video.html
(3) https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/6/e021960
(6) https://www.coe.int/en/web/istanbul-convention/the-convention-in-brief
(7) https://endtodv.org/coalitions/davia/research
