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Did Boris Johnson put his foot in it in talks with Macron? | Did Boris Johnson put his foot in it in talks with Macron? |
(32 minutes later) | |
A photo of Boris Johnson sticking his foot on a table during talks in Paris with the French president triggered unflattering comments on social media. | A photo of Boris Johnson sticking his foot on a table during talks in Paris with the French president triggered unflattering comments on social media. |
But users on both sides of the Channel who called the UK prime minister's actions insulting might have been jumping to conclusions. | |
A video appears to show Mr Johnson was responding to a joke by his host. | A video appears to show Mr Johnson was responding to a joke by his host. |
Emmanuel Macron seems to suggest the table could also be used as a footstool before Mr Johnson lifts his right boot. | |
One British user accused Mr Johnson of poor manners, saying: "Imagine the outrage on the British tabloids if a foreign PM did this in Buckingham Palace!" | |
"They clearly don't teach good manners at Eton," wrote another, using the hashtag #yob. | |
In France, one person commented (in French): "British class, BoJo-style" and another thundered: "I wonder what the Queen thinks of this." | |
But Sky News political correspondent Tom Rayner offered a different perspective on the incident, saying it was part of a good-humoured exchange. | But Sky News political correspondent Tom Rayner offered a different perspective on the incident, saying it was part of a good-humoured exchange. |
French media have made light of the incident, too. | French media have made light of the incident, too. |
"No, Boris Johnson did not insult France by putting his foot on the table in front of Emmanuel Macron," was the headline on a story by Le Parisien newspaper, which then outlines the light-hearted exchange between the two. | "No, Boris Johnson did not insult France by putting his foot on the table in front of Emmanuel Macron," was the headline on a story by Le Parisien newspaper, which then outlines the light-hearted exchange between the two. |
"Internet is quick to react - and sometimes overreact," it added. | "Internet is quick to react - and sometimes overreact," it added. |
The websites of the weekly L'Obs and FranceInfo radio similarly saw the funny side of the episode. | The websites of the weekly L'Obs and FranceInfo radio similarly saw the funny side of the episode. |
In the eyes of French media, at least, it seems the prime minister did not put his foot in it this time after all. | In the eyes of French media, at least, it seems the prime minister did not put his foot in it this time after all. |