French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte are set to submit scientific evidence to a US court to disprove false claims that Brigitte Macron was born male, according to their lawyer. The couple filed a defamation suit in July against right-wing influencer Candace Owens and her business, alleging that Owens has used defamatory attacks to boost her media profile and generate revenue.
Owens previously stated she would stake her professional reputation on the claim that Brigitte Macron is a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux, and has reiterated the falsehood in an eight-part podcast series. The Macrons' lawyer, Tom Clare of Clare Locke, told the BBC's Fame under Fire podcast that Brigitte has found the allegations “incredibly upsetting” and a “distraction” for the president.
Clare stated that expert testimony of a scientific nature will be presented, though he did not specify the form it would take. He added that Brigitte is resolved to undergo a public process to set the record straight, and that photos of her pregnant and raising her children will be submitted as evidence. The suit notes that Jean-Michel Trogneux is Brigitte's older brother, who lives in Amiens and attended Macron's presidential inaugurations.
Brigitte Macron, 72, is 24 years older than her husband and has three children from a previous marriage, born in 1975, 1977, and 1984. The false claims first went viral in France in 2021. Brigitte and her brother previously won a defamation case against two bloggers in France, though an appeals court later ruled the case did not meet the legal definition of defamation; that decision is being challenged in France's highest court.
The suit against Owens alleges she disregarded credible evidence disproving her claim in favour of promoting known conspiracy theorists. Owens' lawyers have filed a motion to dismiss, arguing the case should not be heard in Delaware, where her businesses are incorporated, as it does not relate to them. Owens maintains she stands by her allegations.
