'Vision Of A Tiger': Macron Laughs Off 'Harmless' Eye Condition, But The Internet Had More To Say

Last Updated:January 19, 2026, 17:50 IST

French President Emmanuel Macron was sporting a puffy, red eye during a recent New Year address to the armed forces, which triggered online vitriol against his wife Brigitte Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron was sporting a puffy, red eye (L) during a recent New Year address to the armed forces. He earlier wore sunglasses during an outdoor troop inspection. (Image: AFP)

French President Emmanuel Macron’s apparent reference to Eye of the Tiger – the hit theme song by American rock band Survivor from the 1982 Rocky III movie starring Sylvester Stallone – was not enough for the internet.

Macron, who was sporting a puffy, red eye during a recent New Year address to France’s armed forces, joked about his “completely harmless" eye condition but his appearance triggered a wave of online harassment against his wife Brigitte Macron. 

“Please pardon the unsightly appearance of my eye," Macron said at the beginning of his speech on January 15. “It is, of course, something completely harmless."

He earlier wore sunglasses during an outdoor troop inspection. “Simply see an unintentional reference to the ‘Eye of the Tiger’… For those who catch the reference, it is a sign of determination…I now have the vision of a tiger," he said.

Watch the video here:

Macron’s speech addressed key challenges for the military in 2026, from France’s accelerated rearmament and continued support for Ukraine, to the decision to send troops to Greenland in a show of support for Denmark. While his address gained significant attention for the policy shifts, social media praised him for his humour and “presidential swagger" even as a section of the internet used the viral moment to launch a wave of vitriol against First Lady Brigitte Macron.

‘SMACKING HIM AROUND’

Distressing comments appeared online, with some users suggesting that Brigitte Macron was “smacking him around" or that she had “wang whipped" him.

The President’s eye condition once again sparked conspiracy theories claiming that his wife was born as a man, despite the fact that French authorities have repeatedly debunked the same. These online reactions echoed a previous viral clip from May 2025 regarding a joke in Vietnam that was similarly taken out of context.

This comes after a recent legal victory for the First Lady, where a Paris criminal court convicted 10 people for orchestrating a defamation campaign against her. The Elysee Palace has since clarified the situation, stressing that Macron’s condition is merely a minor medical issue. It has been confirmed that he suffered a ruptured blood vessel, which is a “harmless and temporary" condition.

News world 'Vision Of A Tiger': Macron Laughs Off 'Harmless' Eye Condition, But The Internet Had More To Say

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