French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte have filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States against rightwing podcaster Candace Owens, targeting the false claim that Brigitte Macron was born a man. The lawsuit, filed this week, describes the allegations as 'verifiably false and devastating lies' that have led to 'a campaign of global humiliation' and 'relentless bullying on a worldwide scale'.
The false narrative, which claims Brigitte Macron is actually a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux, originated in France in 2021 during a period of heightened distrust in politicians following the gilets jaunes protests and the Covid-19 pandemic. The rumour went viral after a YouTube interview in December 2021 with Natacha Rey, who claimed to have investigated the first lady's background. The hashtag #Jean-MichelTrogneux trended on social media, promoted by far-right and anti-vaccine accounts.
The Macrons' lawsuit states that Jean-Michel Trogneux is in fact Brigitte Macron's older brother, who attended both of Emmanuel Macron's presidential inaugurations. The couple's relationship has long been a topic of public interest, with Brigitte Macron, 72, being 24 years older than her husband and having been his teacher in secondary school. They married in 2007 after Brigitte divorced her first husband.
Emmanuelle Anizon, a journalist who investigated the rumour, described it as 'one of the biggest fake news stories worldwide in terms of popularity', with an estimated billion views. She noted that the Macrons' joint legal action is unprecedented. Owens, whose podcast reaches millions, has stated she stands by her narrative.
The case highlights broader questions about the global spread of conspiracy theories and the role of legal systems in combating disinformation. The false claim has persisted despite clear evidence to the contrary, reflecting deep-seated societal distrust in France.
