FRANCE/ DELAWARE:--- A defamation lawsuit has been filed by French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron against U.S. conservative influencer Candace Owens. The legal action, launched in a Delaware court, seeks substantial damages over claims made by Owens that Brigitte Macron is a man. The couple's attorney, Tom Clare, emphasized that the lawsuit is a measure of last resort following a year of unsuccessful attempts to get Owens to retract her statements.
Clare expressed frustration at Owens' repeated mockery of efforts to correct the record. "Enough is enough; it was time to hold her accountable," he said in an interview with CNN. He described the lawsuit as a direct response to allegations that have plagued Brigitte Macron for years, despite being repeatedly debunked.
Owens, a political commentator with around 4.5 million subscribers on YouTube, dismissed the lawsuit as a “desperate public relations strategy” in a video posted on the platform. She went on to describe the French first lady in derogatory terms and denied any wrongdoing.
The claims against Brigitte Macron are part of a longstanding conspiracy theory suggesting she was born as a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux. However, this theory has been thoroughly discredited. Brigitte’s brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux, has often been misrepresented in these unfounded rumors.
The first couple's attorney stated that the 219-page lawsuit includes extensive proof affirming Brigitte Macron’s gender identity. He further noted that the damages sought could be significant if Owens continues to repeat her false claims prior to trial.
The Macrons have a history of confronting such allegations. Last year, they won a defamation case in France against two women who had spread similar false claims online. However, a Paris appeals court overturned the decision earlier this month, prompting Brigitte and her brother to bring the matter before France’s highest court.
This latest legal development also brings renewed attention to Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron’s personal history. The couple, who have faced public scrutiny throughout their relationship, first met when Emmanuel was a high school student, and Brigitte was a teacher. Married since 2007, they have frequently been the subject of media speculation and conspiracy theories. he lawsuit highlights the growing challenges faced by public figures combating misinformation in the digital age. President Macron, now serving his second and final term, and his wife continue to resist unfounded rumors while attracting both international support and criticism.
