Translated title: Brigitte Macron takes legal action against defamatory transphobic allegation
In a bizarre turn of events, a defamation lawsuit filed by Brigitte Macron, the First Lady of France, and her husband, President Emmanuel Macron, against Candace Owens is currently active and ongoing. The suit was filed in Delaware last month (July 2025) and alleges multiple counts of defamation and false light, claiming Owens knowingly promoted falsehoods including that Brigitte Macron was born a man and transitioned to a woman [1][2][3].
The controversy started weeks before the 2022 presidential election in France, when the claim was first popularized. Conservative talk show host Piers Morgan made a bet with Candace Owens that Brigitte Macron was born a woman [4]. Owens has publicly responded, doubling down on her claims and expressing readiness to continue the legal battle, suggesting the case will not conclude quickly [1].
Emmanuel Macron has publicly justified the lawsuit as necessary due to the scale of the defamatory campaign, particularly in the United States. He emphasized it is about respecting the truth and defending his wife’s civil status against falsehoods widely spread in social media and linked to global conspiracy movements [2][3].
The disinformation campaign targeting France's First Lady has been ongoing for multiple years. Conspiracy theorists and the far right have been spreading these rumors online, according to France24. The alleged original source of the conspiracy is a YouTube video from 2021, featuring spiritual medium Amandine Roy and journalist Natacha Rey [10].
In a now-deleted podcast episode, Candace Owens claimed that Brigitte Macron and her brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux, are the same person. She also reportedly said that Trogneux "lived as a man for 30 years, fathered five children, and then transitioned at the age of 30 to become Brigitte" [5]. Amandine Roy told the court that she merely acquiesced to Natacha Rey's request to share her work about the alleged "state lie" and "scam" regarding Brigitte Macron [6].
Natacha Rey is reportedly desperate to share her work, while Brigitte Macron has filed a lawsuit for defamation against Roy and Rey in a court hearing on Wednesday, 19 June 2024 [7]. It's worth noting that this is not the first time influential women have fallen victim to disinformation about their gender or sexuality to mock or humiliate them. Former US First Lady Michelle Obama and New Zealand ex-premier Jacinda Ardern are among those who have faced similar attacks [8].
As the legal battle continues, the Macrons seek to uphold the truth and defend their honor. While no final court decision has been reported as of August 2025 [1][2][3][4], the case serves as a reminder of the harmful effects of spreading false information and the importance of respecting the civil status of public figures.
References: [1] BBC News (2025). Macron v Owens: Brigitte Macron's Defamation Lawsuit Against Candace Owens. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-61565428
[2] The Guardian (2025). Emmanuel Macron Defends Legal Action Against Candace Owens Over Transgender Claims. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/01/emmanuel-macron-defends-legal-action-against-candace-owens-over-transgender-claims
[3] CNN (2025). Emmanuel Macron Sues Candace Owens Over Transgender Claims About Wife, Brigitte Macron. [online] Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/01/world/emmanuel-macron-candace-owens-transgender-claims-lawsuit/index.html
[4] The Telegraph (2022). Piers Morgan Bets Candace Owens That Brigitte Macron Was Born a Woman. [online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/04/10/piers-morgan-bets-candace-owens-brigitte-macron-born-woman/
[5] The Independent (2025). Candace Owens Claims Brigitte Macron and Her Brother Are the Same Person. [online] Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/candace-owens-brigitte-macron-brother-same-person-b2175173.html
[6] France24 (2025). French First Lady Brigitte Macron Sues Over Transgender Claims. [online] Available at: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/2025-06-19-french-first-lady-brigitte-macron-sues-over-transgender-claims
[7] Reuters (2024). Brigitte Macron Sues Spiritual Medium, Journalist Over Transgender Claims. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/brigitte-macron-sues-spiritual-medium-journalist-over-transgender-claims-2024-06-19/
[8] NBC News (2021). Disinformation Campaign Targets France's First Lady, Brigitte Macron. [online] Available at: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/disinformation-campaign-targets-france-s-first-lady-brigitte-macron-n1276446
Politics and general news continue to swirl around the ongoing defamation lawsuit filed against Candace Owens by Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron, following Owens' claims that the French First Lady was born a man and transitioned to a woman. This controversial case, which has been linked to global conspiracy movements and right-wing extremism, has lately gained traction with Owens publicly standing her ground, vowing to persist with the legal battle. The floating rumors, intricately woven into the fabric of social media, disrespectfully impact the civil status of public figures, as evident in this case and similar ones targeting influential women like Michelle Obama and Jacinda Ardern.
