Confessions of husband-beaters: The women who admit to hitting their male partners - as the world reels from clip of Brigitte Macron shoving her husband Emmanuel on a plane
All eyes were on Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron on Monday as they touched down in Vietnam when a clip of the French President, 47, being shoved by his 72-year-old wife went viral.
The shocking incident, which occurred on the plane just as the aircraft door opened, saw Brigitte put her hand in her husband's face as she appeared to push him backwards.
The Macrons, who have been married since 2007, have denied any abuse in their relationship, with a close associate of the president describing the moment as a harmless 'squabble' between a married couple.
An official from the Élysée Palace also downplayed the footage, insisting the moment had been misinterpreted and the couple were simply 'having a laugh', brushing off any suggestion that tensions were running high between the French First Couple.
Nonetheless, the incident has opened up a conversation about domestic violence in relationships where a woman is the perpetrator and a man is the victim.
Statistically, women are significantly more likely to be victims of domestic abuse, thousands of men around the UK are also subjected to abuse within the home at the hands of their partner.
In 2024, 1.6 million women and 712,000 men reported domestic abuse in England and Wales, according to The Office of National Statistics.
And some women who have attacked their male partners have even confessed to their actions online - taking to parenting forum Mumsnet to anonymously reveal their actions.
In a series of posts, some women have revealed how they lost their tempers with their partners and confessed their guilt over reacting with violence.
One anonymous mother-of-two opened up about an altercation she had with her husband after he arrived home 'wasted drunk'.
She explained: 'Last night he went out and said he'd be back by 11 as that's when the baby normally wakes to feed and toddler often wakes at the same time. He wasn't back but I managed to feed and settle baby so just texted him to ask for an ETA.
'He said half an hour - fine. It took a while to burp and settle baby so text him again but didn't deliver so worried a bit.
'Then after another half hour toddler wakes up inconsolable that it's me coming to him and not dad, so texted [my husband], gone back to friend's house, back soon - fine.
'Toddler not settling so tried calling [my husband] and it hangs up. We have each other on 'find your friends' app (for convenience, no issues with trust) and it says he's in a park half an hour away?? So, I start to panic and think he's either gone to get drugs (out of character) or been attacked.'
The woman revealed he eventually came home, two and a half hours after he said he would.
After questioning him she claimed he 'defensively' said he was going to bed instead of explaining where he was.
Then she admitted to grabbing him by the shirt and shoving him, blaming 'sleep deprivation' and 'panic' saying her mind was 'crazy'.
She added: 'I know I need to control my anger and I regret being physical but I was so upset.
One anonymous sleep deprived mother-of-two opened up about an altercation she had with her husband after he arrived home 'wasted drunk'
People rushed to the comments to say there is no excuse for violence and the woman should seek help
'I'll obviously apologise but don't know how to move on from this? Baby has been awake since about 4am, I haven't had any proper sleep since 11pm, just feel miserable right now.'
In response, readers urged her to seek help and warned there is no excuse for violence in the home.
One person wrote: 'You need to go to the doctors and get help and apologise to your husband. You were in the wrong, and whilst I can sympathise how you got there, it was still wrong.
'Good luck OP; I hope your husband forgives you and you are able to get the help you need.'
Another added: 'So much is wrong with your post OP. Bottom line, assaulting one's partner is never acceptable regardless of the genders. 95% of your post is your excuses and rationale for why you assaulted him. It reads to me that you don't really regret hitting him, you just want people to join your pity party and tell you your assault was excusable.'
Another woman also took to the parenting platform to admit she punched her partner repeatedly.
She explained: 'I don't want to be flamed. I know I was wrong.
'We had a bad night and a bad morning, both stressed and argued. It got out of hand and I punched him repeatedly. I feel dreadful. He was calm and left the house.
Another woman also took to the parenting platform to admit she punched her partner repeatedly
Many suggested the woman should hand herself into the police for domestic assault
Another mother- of-two, who admitted to having 'anxiety and depression' claimed she lashed out on her husband and rushed to social media for advice
Many rushed to the comments with sympathy for her situation, saying it sounds like she doesn't have any support but said there is no excuse for violence
'We have huge problems that I can't go into as it will out me, its no excuse I know but we are both under immense pressure, tired and stressed.
'I love him and I feel so ashamed. What do I do now? Where do I seek help for this, I don't want it to happen again.
'If he had done it to me I'd be terrified and would leave. How can I ever make things better?'
Many suggested the woman should hand herself into the police for domestic assault.
One person wrote: 'Go to the police. You've assaulted him. You should be arrested.'
Another added: 'Taking yourself to the police will prove to your husband that you are truly ashamed of what you have done.'
Meanwhile another said: 'Go and see your GP. You say you are stressed and under immense pressure, go and see your doctor immediately. Do not brush this aside. Be prepared for your partner to leave though. He deserves to live free from abuse.'
Another mother-of-two, who admitted to having 'anxiety and depression', claimed she lashed out at her husband and rushed to social media for advice.
Many rushed to the comments with advice to 'end the relationship' as it was 'toxic'
She revealed she has been with her husband for 10 years and they have been married for two years. They share two children together; a one-year-old and six-year-old.
The mother explained they are living in an isolated area with no car and she was feeling unhappy in her marriage.
She explained: 'I have serious doubts on whether we should be together or not but if I leave him what do I do? I've nowhere else to go, I've asked him to leave but he won't go.'
She explained the pair had an agreement and she hit her partner, revealing it wasn't the first time it happened.
She admitted: 'We had a row today and I lost my temper and I hit him, it's not the first time it's happened.
'He says he can't stand me, so I say leave then if you're that unhappy, but he won't! I'm ready for a breakdown if I have to sit in this house one more day with no car!'
She revealed she is stuck at home with the two children all day with no shops nearby and she has started to resent her partner.
She added: 'I'm not using that as an excuse as I know there is no excuse for violence. I didn't hurt him really (I couldn't even if I tried) he's a big strong man, I'm weak compared to him.
Elsewhere another woman confessed to 'slapping' her partner, saying she 'feels sick to my stomach and have been crying all day'
Some suggested that the woman should seek therapy for her own childhood trauma, while others condemned both her and her partner for the toxic altercation
'But I know that's not the point. I feel terrible I hate myself for being like this. I just feel so isolated and in a rut.
'I know I need help but who do I ask? I was gonna speak to my doctor but I'm afraid they'll take my kids. I'm a good mother, my kids are my life. I couldn't bear to be apart from them.'
Many expressed sympathy for her situation and acknowledged that she felt unsupported - but insisted there was no excuse for violence.
One person said: 'Go back to your GP. It really sounds like you need some support/ someone to talk to. You're doing amazingly for your kids. Hugs.'
Another added: 'If this was a man posting this or if the situation was reversed there would be outrage.
'Your husband should be calling the police. Assault is never okay regardless of how big the other person is.
'It's not a great example for your kids to have a physically abusive mother either. You need to remove yourself from the situation, get help and be grateful you haven't been arrested.'
Someone else admitted to feeling 'ashamed and disappointed' in herself for lashing out at her partner.
She explained: 'All day he was doing things and trying to cause an argument.
'Like this morning he was refusing to take his son (aged two) back to his mum's so I had to whilst he was still in bed and I had to give his son breakfast and get him dressed.
'Then this afternoon he was ignoring me. And when he spoke to me he started an argument.
'And I was so fed up with him and angry I hit him. He's gone out now, probably to the pub. I'm so ashamed.'
Many rushed to the comments with advice to 'end the relationship' as it was 'toxic'.
One person said: 'This relationship sounds toxic without the domestic violence, let alone with it.
'For both your sakes end the relationship, and get some help with dealing with anger and how to avoid resorting to violence.'
Another added: 'You need to end the relationship. Neither of you sound like a good example for a two year old to be around.'
Elsewhere another woman confessed to 'slapping' her partner, saying she 'feels sick to my stomach and have been crying all day.'
She started by explaining that she has come from an abusive household herself as her mother was violent to her growing up.
After moving out of home she had a 10 year relationship which had no violence in it but they separated because they were more like 'friends.'
However she is currently in a one-year long relationship with a man and things got heated between them.
She explained: 'Last night we had a row, it came out of nowhere really. I was working late and I was really stressed and getting a bit upset, he just made some stupid comment 'why don't you go and cry about it, grow up' I asked him to leave because I could see the argument brewing, he refused.
'So I got up and I pulled his arm to get him up off the sofa to leave. He jumped up, shouted at me and grabbed my arms, his face was full of rage, my childhood flashed before me and I honestly thought he was going to hit me, so I just slapped him across the face.
'I am in no way trying to condole(sic) my actions from what happened in my childhood and I feel disgusted and ashamed.
'I feel like I need to end the relationship now because I am scared in case it happens again.
'My DP promised he wasn't going to hit me and I think I know deep down that he wouldn't.
'I don't know what came across me, I've never once hit anyone, never had a fall out with friends, not had a confrontational argument with anyone etc.
'I feel sick to my stomach and have been crying all day. I am no better than the abusers my poor mother was with.'
Some suggested that the woman should seek therapy for her own childhood trauma, while others condemned both her and her partner for the toxic altercation.
One person said: 'Neither of your actions are good and you assaulted him first. Why didn't you leave the room rather then trying to force him?
'Sounds like you need some therapy to get through your past . I'd also take a break from your relationship. Sorry but if you were my partner I'd be leaving. Neither of the actions are good but he used words and you used violence . Definitely not all his fault.'
Another added: 'Sounds like you need anger management therapy. You have trauma from your childhood, but you absolutely cannot abuse your partner.'
It comes after a woman shockingly admitted to being a husband beater for many years before seeking help from a support group.
In 2010, Florence Terry revealed she would lash out at her husband but she now helps others to overcome conflict in their marriages.
Speaking to MailOnline, she explained: 'The first time I struck my husband was during an argument over money. He'd decided to pay off a loan without telling me and we'd gone overdrawn. I was worried and tried to discuss it with him, at which point he left the room.
'I felt we hadn't talked it through properly and followed him. The next minute, I was hitting him around the head. I remember losing control and my limbs lashing out.
'Afterwards he was upset and I cried - I felt scared and ashamed of what I'd done.
'I apologised and thought it was a one-off, but in fact it was a pattern that carried on for the next ten years.
'I met my husband through mutual friends at Durham University. I was 19 and he was five years older, more worldly and mature. He was less serious, too, and made me laugh.
'We married five years later. He had a job in IT by then and I started work as a divorce lawyer. The early days of our marriage were steady, but as the stress of my job and responsibilities grew, I took it out on him.
'After that first time, it happened again about 18 months later. I felt a surge of rage I couldn't control. My anger would escalate during arguments over household chores or my husband coming to bed late. I remember feeling I was out of my body, watching myself and telling myself to stop, but I couldn't. I would hit him hard; hitting to hurt.
'One time, I picked up a table and crashed it down so hard on the ground that it broke. I left bite marks in his arm a couple of times - it was similar to the way siblings fight, yet he never once struck back. He'd hold up his hands to shield himself, which made me feel even worse.
'My husband felt emotionally hurt at times - it was upsetting for him to think the person he loved wanted to hurt him - but he never threatened to leave me.
'He felt there was more to me than this behaviour, and that we still had a strong marriage.
'I'm a petite woman, a little over eight stone (51kg), and my husband is a big man. Yet he said he didn't feel emasculated, and that I never physically hurt him. While I exploded, he remained calm.'
Florence admitted she was 'thankful' that her husband didn't lash out at her or ever escalate the situation.
She added: 'I was using violence to get a reaction. I was verbally aggressive, too. I'd make demeaning comments, sarcastic and personal attacks - all the things that erode love.
'I'd blame him, preach and criticise. I couldn't understand why I wanted to be aggressive to someone I loved. I now realise the anger I felt was to do with stress and low self-esteem. I was packing my life too tightly, working long hours as a lawyer, volunteering at the Citizens Advice bureau and doing soup runs for the homeless.
'I had what I felt was a privileged upbringing; my family was middle class and I went to private schools. I felt I had an obligation to repay this to society. I thought I should be superhuman and I felt my husband should be, too.
'To other people I seemed calm and accommodating, a kind of peacemaker. But inside I was pent up and deeply ashamed of myself.
'Eventually I accepted something had to change. I'd heard about domestic violence groups, but only for men. I felt my behaviour carried an added stigma - women weren't expected to be violent, especially high-powered working women who volunteered for charities.
'Then I found an anger management course on the internet. It was nerve-racking at first, and I knew I'd have to face up to aspects of my life I'd prefer to overlook. Yet the course was a turning point and by the time it finished I felt confident I could control myself.
'Then, two years later, I hit my husband again. I had become complacent, assumed that I'd changed. So when I slapped his face for the last time, I was forced to confront the situation.
'This time I told my family and friends what had been happening. That they didn't criticise or judge was a huge help. Soon after, I decided to go part-time as a lawyer and a mediator, and now I run a course to help people deal with anger and conflict.
'My husband and I are still together, and I'm careful not to choose language that is aggressive. If i ever get angry and feel my heartbeat quicken, I leave the room, but that is rare.
'I wouldn't claim our marriage is now perfect, but it's pretty good. It's a caring and gentle relationship, which feels like a big achievement for me.'
Florence now runs the anger management group StopSeeingRed.co.uk to help people learn to control their anger.
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- Daily Mail
Handlebar, Walrus, or 70s? Expert reveals how to find the right moustache for your face shape - and why Justin Bieber and Michael Cera got it wrong
From the bushy walrus to a signature handlebar, there's a huge range of moustache styles out there. And picking the right one can seem like a minefield. But don't worry, chaps – as it turns out particular variations suit certain face shapes. In the same way that the right pair of sunglasses can complement your looks, a fuzzy upper lip also has the ability to enhance your features. Olly Walker, a grooming expert from men's personal care brand Harry's, has shared his tips for growing a moustache that flatters your face. And it goes some way to explaining how David Beckham and Timothée Chalamet are able to pull off very different styles. To start with, it's best to work out whether you have a triangular, oval, rectangular, square or heart-shaped face. And if you're struggling, MailOnline's guide can help point you in the right direction. TRIANGULAR FACE People with this shaped face – including Harry Styles, Jacob Elordi and Timothée Chalamet – tend to have a narrower forehead and a wider jaw. Mr Walker explained that triangular faces benefit from a moustache that adds visual weight up top. 'A fuller style like the Chevron works well here – it helps broaden the upper part of your face and draws attention upward,' he said. 'Be patient while growing – it can take around five weeks to get the fullness needed for shaping.' OVAL FACE David Beckham and Jake Gyllenhall are among those with oval faces, which are naturally well-balanced – meaning most moustache styles will suit. 'You've got the freedom to experiment, from a bold horseshoe to a neat pencil moustache,' Mr Walker said. 'The only tip? Avoid styles that are overly long or droopy, as they can throw off your natural symmetry.' David Beckham and Jake Gyllenhall are among those with oval faces, which are naturally well-balanced – meaning most moustache styles will suit Styles of moustache The Chevron: thick and wide, covering the upper lip The Handlebar: long ends that curl upward like bicycle handlebars The Horseshoe: like an upside-down horseshoe, extending past the lips The Walrus: thick and bushy, drooping over the upper lip The Pencil: thin, finely groomed, just above the upper lip The Toothbrush: thin with vertical sides the width of the nose The Fu Manchu: long and thin, extending downward past the chin The Dali: thin moustache with sharp, upward-curving ends RECTANGULAR FACE For longer face shapes – such as those belonging to Ben Affleck and Adam Levine – the goal is to avoid elongating the face further, according to the grooming expert. 'Choose a moustache with some width, like a walrus or a natural, full-bodied style,' Mr Walker advised. 'These help create balance by visually shortening the length of your face.' SQUARE FACE Henry Cavill, Pedro Pascal and Brad Pitt are among those with square faces. This face shape features a strong jawline, as well as sharp angles. Moustache styles that soften and elongate pair best with this face shape, according to Mr Walker. 'A narrower style like the English or handlebar adds contrast to the bold bone structure and brings in a bit of flair,' the expert added. Ben Affleck (left) has more of a rectangular face, and so a 'full-bodied style' is best, experts said. Brad Pitt (right) however, has more of a square face. Experts say strong jawlines and sharp angles pair best with moustache styles that soften and elongate HEART-SHAPED FACE A wider forehead and narrower chin call for a moustache that adds weight to the lower half of the face. 'A medium-thick moustache – like the Painter's Brush or a soft natural style – can help balance out proportions without looking too heavy,' Mr Walker advised. 'Keep the shape rounded at the edges rather than angular, and trim just enough to define the upper lip.' Celebrities who have embraced this style include Ryan Gosling and Chris Hemsworth. WHO GOT IT WRONG? Back in 2020 Justin Bieber sported a moustache that fans went wild over - and not in a good way. The Canadian star, who has an oval-shaped face, opted for a bushy, droopy moustache, which experts do not recommend for his dimensions. Michael Cera, meanwhile, has a triangular face and so needs to add 'visual weight up top' with his moustache. Previously, he has sported more of a horseshoe look - which is best for more of an oval face. In the last century the popularity of moustaches has fluctuated, with significant periods of prevalence in the 1920s and 30s and the 1970s and 80s. In recent years, however, they have become popular again – particularly among hipsters. Movember – an international charity event where men grow moustaches during the month of November to raise funds for men's health issues – has also raised their fashionableness. Despite their recent rise in popularity moustaches are the biggest-turn off for women, according to a poll. Scientist and expert in facial perception, Professor Tim Andrews, teamed up with Wilkinson Sword on the study about the most attractive facial hair styles on men. A poll of 2,000 adults found the majority considered stubble to be the sexiest facial hair option. However the moustache was only considered alluring by three per cent - and they scored highly for 'arrogance'.
