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French Court Convicts Ten in Cyberbullying Case Against First Lady Brigitte Macron
Ten individuals have been found guilty of cyberbullying France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron after spreading false claims that she was born a man. A Paris court handed down suspended prison sentences ranging up to eight months for what it described as “particularly degrading and insulting” comments.
The case involved eight men and two women, aged 41 to 65, who were accused of posting numerous false claims about President Emmanuel Macron’s wife. The defendants not only spread misinformation about her gender identity but also linked the couple’s 24-year age gap to pedophilia, according to court documents.
Brigitte Macron did not attend the two-day trial in October but spoke about her decision to pursue legal action during an interview on TF1 national television. “I launched legal proceedings to set an example,” she said, noting that some of the defamatory posts had been viewed tens of thousands of times.
The First Lady’s daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified about the significant impact the harassment has had on her mother’s wellbeing. “She cannot ignore the horrible things said about her,” Auzière told the court, adding that the harassment has affected the entire family, including Macron’s grandchildren.
Among the convicted individuals was Delphine Jegousse, 51, who goes by the name Amandine Roy and describes herself as a medium and author. The court determined she played a major role in disseminating the rumor after releasing a four-hour video on her YouTube channel in 2021. She received a six-month suspended prison sentence.
The most severe penalty went to Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, 41, known online as Zoé Sagan, who received an eight-month suspended prison sentence. His X (formerly Twitter) account was suspended earlier this year after being linked to several judicial investigations.
The defendant pool represented diverse backgrounds, including an elected official, a teacher, and a computer scientist. Several defendants claimed during the trial that their comments were meant as humor or satire, expressing confusion about why they faced prosecution.
The conspiracy theory at the center of the case falsely alleged that Brigitte Macron was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is actually her brother’s name. This misinformation has circulated for years in certain online circles despite having no factual basis.
The legal action in France comes as the Macrons have also filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens, who has promoted similar false claims. In November, Owens made unsubstantiated allegations that the French government was plotting against her in retaliation for the Macrons’ legal action.
Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron have been married since 2007. They first met when he was a student and she was a teacher at the same high school. At that time, Brigitte was known as Brigitte Auzière and was a married mother of three. The 24-year age gap between the couple has often been a subject of public discussion, sometimes being used as fodder for conspiracy theories.
Emmanuel Macron, now 48, has served as France’s president since 2017. Throughout his presidency, his wife has faced various forms of online harassment, with the transgender conspiracy theory being among the most persistent.
This case highlights the growing legal response to online harassment in France, where cyberbullying laws have been strengthened in recent years. The verdict serves as a precedent for how courts may handle similar cases of digital defamation against public figures in the future.
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8 Comments
It’s disturbing to see how quickly false information can spread and cause real damage, even to high-profile individuals. The courts were right to convict these individuals and send a strong message that cyberbullying and defamation will not be tolerated, even in the digital age.
This verdict is an important step in holding people accountable for the real-world harm caused by online harassment and the spread of disinformation. While free speech is crucial, it should not be used as a shield to attack and humiliate others, especially those in the public eye.
I agree. The First Lady was right to take legal action to protect her reputation and wellbeing. Cyberbullying can have severe psychological impacts, even for those in positions of power, and should be addressed firmly by the justice system.
This case highlights the need for stronger regulations and enforcement around online disinformation and harassment. Anonymity on the internet should not shield people from accountability for their actions. I hope this verdict sends a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated.
While freedom of speech is important, it does not give people the right to harass and defame others, especially public figures. Spreading baseless rumors about someone’s gender identity is both cruel and dangerous. The First Lady was right to pursue legal action to protect her reputation and wellbeing.
I agree. Cyberbullying and online harassment can be extremely damaging, even for those in positions of power and influence. It’s good that the courts recognized the severity of this case and imposed penalties on the perpetrators.
This is a disturbing case of cyberbullying and the spread of false information. Attacking public figures with vicious, untrue claims is unacceptable and can have real consequences for those targeted. I’m glad to see the French courts taking action to hold the perpetrators accountable.
While I understand the desire to criticize public figures, attacking someone’s personal identity with false claims crosses a line. The First Lady was right to take legal action to protect her reputation and stop the spread of harmful misinformation. Cyberbullying has real consequences that should not be ignored.