French President Emmanuel Macron, 46, made headlines after sharing an intimate kiss with his sports minister during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics on Friday. The photo, which has gone viral, shows Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, also 46, kissing Macron’s neck with one arm around his neck and the other gripping his arm. French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal is also in the picture, seemingly looking away.
The image has garnered over 4 million views on social media platform X and has sparked controversy even in France, where kissing is a common greeting. Many social media users felt the kiss was inappropriate, with one person commenting, “It’s my lover that I’m kissing like this. Embarrassing,” according to the New York Post. Another user said, “I find this photo indecent, it’s not worthy of a president and a minister.” Some joked about Macron’s wife, Brigitte Macron’s, potential reaction, while others appreciated Oudéa-Castéra’s boldness, with one user saying, “At least one who loves her boss, that’s nice to see.”
The photo was first brought to public attention by French magazine Madame Figaro, which noted that Oudéa-Castéra certainly knows how to create a buzz.
🇫🇷📷 EN IMAGES | Emmanuel Macron et Amélie Oudéa-Castéra après la cérémonie d’ouverture des JO de #Paris2024. pic.twitter.com/MyNR6KOJmW
— Cerfia (@CerfiaFR) July 27, 2024
The Paris Olympics 2024 commenced last week, with Friday’s opening ceremony marking the first time it was held outside a stadium. The Parade of Nations featured Olympic teams floating down the Seine River. The event included performances by pop icon Lady Gaga, metal band Gojira, Céline Dion, and Aya Nakamura, and was attended by world leaders, international business figures, celebrities, and athletes.