French president may sue magazine over claims he had affair with actress

President Francois Hollande is considering suing a magazine over claims that he was having an affair with a 41-year-old actress

15:37 10 January 2014

French president Francois Hollande may take legal action against the French version of Closer magazine over claims that he was having an affair with 41-year-old actress Julie Gayet. However, the president did not specifically deny any allegations within the article.

The magazine, which was under fire in 2012 after it published topless pictures of Kate Middleton, published images of an unrecognizable man in black motorcycle arriving at the Paris flat of the actress on New Year’s Day under the headline “The Secret Love of the President.”

The magazine said that the man, who was wearing a helmet, was recognisable from his shoes. It added that the second man, which the magazine identified as an Elysee security officer, is the president’s solitary bodyguard.

A page of the magazine reads: "The Head of State is accompanied by a solitary bodyguard who protects the secrecy surrounding these encounters with an actress and even brings them croissants."

The Elysée said this morning: "Francois Hollande greatly deplores the invasion of his privacy, to which he has a right as any other citizen does. He is studying what action, including legal action, to take following this publication."