Translated headline: Brigitte Macron takes legal action against defamatory transphobic claim
In the world of politics and social media, conspiracy theories often flourish, and the case of Brigitte Macron, France's First Lady, is no exception. The origins of the transgender conspiracy theory surrounding her began around 2021, with the false claim that she was born male under the name of her brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux.
This conspiracy alleges that she is actually a transgender woman and has been promoted by far-right influencers, notably U.S. podcaster Candace Owens, who released an eight-part podcast called Becoming Brigitte that spread and monetized this baseless narrative. The spread of this conspiracy theory has been linked to the broader phenomenon of "transvestigations," where public female figures—including Michelle Obama, Jacinda Ardern, and Kamala Harris—are targeted with false accusations about their gender identity as a form of online harassment mixing anti-trans rhetoric with far-right conspiracy theories.
Owens and others have used social media platforms and podcasts to gain millions of views by promoting these falsehoods. The name "Jean-Michel Trogneux" became a viral hashtag on social media platforms. Despite the legal efforts, experts and commentators note that such conspiracy theories are difficult to fully stop online due to their nature and the distrust of official evidence by believers. Even if the Macrons win defamation cases, the claims tend to persist in some internet circles.
In legal response, the Macrons have taken strong action—filing defamation lawsuits against Owens as well as previous influencers who spread similar claims. They have argued that the conspiracy has caused substantial reputational damage and required significant resources to address, describing the campaign as relentless worldwide bullying. Brigitte Macron was even previously awarded damages against two French far-right figures for similar false claims.
This case exemplifies how gender-based conspiracy theories can be weaponized in political and cultural conflicts, with serious personal and legal repercussions for those targeted as well as ongoing difficulties in combating misinformation online.
- The transgender conspiracy theory about Brigitte Macron, France's First Lady, has been linked to the broader phenomenon of "transvestigations," where public female figures are targeted with false accusations about their gender identity, often mixing anti-trans rhetoric with far-right conspiracy theories in politics and general-news realms.
- Social media platforms and podcasts, in the hands of far-right influencers like Candace Owens, have become effective tools for promoting baseless narratives such as the claim that Brigitte Macron is a transgender woman, a controversy that has persisted despite legal efforts and has caused substantial reputational damage to her.
