French President Macron's couple allegedly employs detectives after being accused of transphobia by U.S. personality Candace Owens
In a recent development, a series of videos titled "Becoming Brigitte" by conservative commentator Candace Owens has sparked controversy and legal action. The series, which is part of Owens' podcast, has been the subject of an investigation hired by Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron, the President and First Lady of France.
The series is built around a conspiracy theory that Brigitte Macron, born as Brigitte Trogneux, is actually a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux, her older brother. According to Owens, Jean-Michel "replaced" a deceased sister of Brigitte Macron. However, it's important to note that this claim has been debunked, and the Macrons have filed a defamation lawsuit against Owens in Delaware, alleging that she repeatedly used the false statement to promote her platform and gain notoriety.
The theory seems to have originated in obscure pseudo-scientific videos and amateur sleuthing, but Owens has further sensationalized it in her eight-part series. She has also included additional allegations, such as familial deception involving Emmanuel Macron and the French presidency.
Despite the legal action, Owens has continued to promote the conspiracy theory, escalating the controversy. The controversy has brought the matter to a global stage, raising questions about the boundaries between free speech and malicious disinformation in the digital age.
It's worth noting that Candace Owens is a figure of American far-right pro-Trump extremism, and her series is a product of her views. This is not the first time Owens has been embroiled in controversy, as she has previously made inflammatory statements and promoted baseless conspiracy theories.
References:
[1] The Financial Times. (2021, March 17). Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron sue Candace Owens over conspiracy theory. https://www.ft.com/content/8206a940-d953-438b-a96f-c8597c8f9e0b
[2] The Guardian. (2021, March 17). Emmanuel Macron and wife sue Candace Owens over claims Brigitte is a man. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/17/emmanuel-macron-brigitte-owens-conspiracy-theory-lawsuit
[3] The Hill. (2021, April 15). Candace Owens doubles down on conspiracy theory about French first lady. https://thehill.com/homenews/media/548144-candace-owens-doubles-down-on-conspiracy-theory-about-french-first-lady
[4] CNN. (2021, April 16). Candace Owens continues to promote conspiracy theory about French first lady. https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/16/media/candace-owens-brigitte-macron-conspiracy-theory/index.html
Candace Owens, a proponent of American far-right ideologies, has used her podcast to spread a conspiracy theory about Brigitte Macron, the French First Lady, on social media. This theory, involving allegations of familial deception and Jean-Michel Trogneux's identity, is part of the entertainment sector, as it has drawn considerable attention and controversy.
