A Paris court is set to deliver its verdict on Monday in a case involving ten individuals accused of cyberbullying French first lady Brigitte Macron. The defendants allegedly spread false online claims about her gender and sexuality, which her daughter said has damaged her health and family life.
The accused, eight men and two women aged 41 to 60, are charged with posting 'numerous malicious comments' falsely claiming that President Emmanuel Macron’s wife was born a man and linking their 24-year age gap to paedophilia. Some posts were viewed tens of thousands of times.
Brigitte Macron's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified about the 'deterioration' of her mother's life since the online harassment intensified. 'She cannot ignore the horrible things said about her,' Auzière told the court, adding that the impact has extended to the entire family, including Macron’s grandchildren.
Defendant Delphine Jegousse, 51, known as Amandine Roy and described as a medium and author, is considered a key figure in spreading the rumour after releasing a four-hour video on her YouTube channel in 2021. Another defendant, Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, 41, known as Zoé Sagan on social media, had his X account suspended in 2024 after his name appeared in several judicial investigations.
Other defendants include an elected official, a teacher, and a computer scientist. Several told the court their comments were intended as humour or satire and said they did not understand why they were being prosecuted. If convicted, they face up to two years in prison.
The case follows years of conspiracy theories falsely alleging that Brigitte Macron was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is actually the name of her brother. The Macrons have also filed a defamation suit in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens.
