Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, faces allegations tied to a 2012 event in Cannes, France, where he allegedly slapped an ex-girlfriend following an argument.
Page Six reported that the alleged incident, as reported by the Daily Mail, involves claims from three friends of the alleged victim concerning the confrontation at the Cannes Film Festival.
According to the accusations, Emhoff is purported to have slapped "Jane," an ex-girlfriend, during a dispute shortly after they had attended film festival festivities.
The source of the argument, as described by friends, was a misunderstanding in a valet line where Jane reportedly offered €100 to a valet attendant. This gesture was allegedly misinterpreted by Emhoff as flirting.
A male friend recounted that Jane contacted him in tears, describing how Emhoff had confronted her. He reported that Jane told her, "He thought she was flirting and struck her." The friend emphasized that Jane seemed in shock and distress over this sudden change in demeanor.
Another friend of Jane detailed the altercation, mentioning that Emhoff allegedly turned Jane around and slapped her, catching her off guard. This version of events included a description of Jane spinning around due to the severity of the slap, causing her confusion and surprise.
Jane is claimed to have immediately retaliated by slapping Emhoff twice, indicating the intensity of the confrontation.
A third acquaintance provided a slightly different account, noting uncertainty on whether Emhoff’s action was a punch or slap but recounting Jane's decision to end the relationship soon after.
Despite Jane's wish to leave alone post-incident, it is claimed that Emhoff entered her vehicle, ignoring her desire for solitude. During a confrontation, Jane allegedly demanded an explanation, to which Emhoff justified his actions by asserting she was "hitting on the valet."
Friends claimed significant distress on Jane's part following the incident, leading her to terminate the relationship after three months.
The relationship's early phase reportedly included lavish experiences and family introductions, adding a layer of surprise to the sudden aggression.
Photos supplied to the Daily Mail serve to corroborate Jane’s previous association with Emhoff, highlighting the seriousness of the claims. Friends have also expressed their disquiet over Emhoff's current public persona, which they argue contrasts sharply with their account of past behaviors.
Adding to the layers of complexity, Emhoff’s past relationships have come under scrutiny.
He admitted in an earlier media interview about infidelities during his first marriage to Kerstin Emhoff, leading Jane and her friends to view these as warning signs in hindsight.
After the ordeal, friends recalled how Emhoff allegedly minimized the seriousness of the altercation with a tennis-related joke the following day, seemingly trivializing Jane's response to his actions.
The claims by Jane’s friends point to an underlying tension between the public narrative and alleged private behavior, drawing a complex portrait of those embroiled in this high-profile story.
While Emhoff had taken responsibility for past transgressions in his first marriage, these new allegations, if substantiated, may invite further scrutiny into his actions over the years.
