Brigitte Macron’s Daughter Refutes False Claims About Mother’s Gender Identity

In a landmark legal battle that spans both sides of the Atlantic, French First Lady Brigitte Macron is taking unprecedented action against a wave of transgender conspiracy theories that have spread rapidly through social media channels and right-wing platforms.

The case in Paris began last August when Macron filed a complaint about online harassment, resulting in multiple arrests in December and February. Among those facing criminal charges is Amandine Roy, a self-described spiritual medium who helped propagate the rumors in a 2021 interview with journalist Natacha Rey.

Another defendant, art gallery owner Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, defended his online posts during court proceedings, characterizing them as protected free speech and satire rather than cyberbullying.

The conspiracy theory gained significant traction after being amplified by American right-wing commentator Candace Owens, who commands a substantial audience with 5.5 million subscribers on her YouTube channel. Owens has repeatedly and forcefully claimed that the French First Lady was born male with the name Jean-Michel Trogneux.

In response to these allegations, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron filed a defamation lawsuit against Owens in a Delaware court in July. Their legal complaint notably asserts that Owens deliberately sought to cause them distress to boost her own profile and gain “attention and notoriety.”

The Macrons’ attorney, Tom Clare, has stated that when the case goes to trial, they will present expert testimony and scientific evidence to refute the claims about the First Lady’s gender identity.

Owens, who was dismissed from conservative media outlet The Daily Wire last year following comments widely interpreted as antisemitic, has framed the lawsuit as an attack on free speech. Despite the legal challenge, she has doubled down on her assertions.

“I would stake my entire professional reputation on the fact that Brigitte Macron is in fact a man,” Owens declared on social platform X in March 2023. “Any journalist or publication that is trying to dismiss this plausibility is immediately identifiable as establishment. I have never seen anything like this in my life. The implications here are terrifying.”

The case highlights the growing international problem of misinformation and conspiracy theories propagated through social media. Digital platforms have created fertile ground for baseless rumors to spread rapidly across borders, often targeting public figures.

For the Macrons, this situation is particularly personal. Brigitte Macron was previously married to André-Louis Auzière from 1974 to 2006, with whom she had three children. She met Emmanuel Macron in 1993 when she was 39 and he was 15 – a relationship that has already made her the subject of public scrutiny and criticism. The couple married in 2007.

The legal proceedings represent a rare instance of a head of state and first lady taking direct legal action against conspiracy theorists and social media personalities. The case could potentially set precedents for how courts in different jurisdictions handle defamation claims involving high-profile international figures.

Media analysts note that the case also raises important questions about the responsibility of influential content creators with large audiences, particularly when making unsubstantiated claims about public figures. The outcome could influence how platforms and personalities approach similar content in the future.

As the Paris criminal case and Delaware civil suit progress, the Macrons’ legal team continues to gather evidence to counter the allegations that have spread across international borders and multiple platforms.