Ten people appeared before the Paris Criminal Court on Monday and Tuesday accused of cyberbullying France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron, over a false claim that she is a transgender woman. The rumour, born in the aftermath of Emmanuel Macron’s 2017 election victory, spread widely across conspiracy and far-right circles in France and abroad.
The defendants, eight men and two women aged between 41 and 60, are accused of publishing and sharing malicious comments about Mrs Macron’s gender and sexuality, some linking her age gap with the president to pedophilia. The Paris prosecutor’s office said the online attacks formed part of a sustained campaign of harassment.
The defamatory rumour gained international traction after being amplified in the United States by conservative commentator Candace Owens, a Trump ally with a record of antisemitic and pro-Russian remarks. The Macron couple filed a defamation lawsuit against Owens in the US earlier this year.
Among those on trial is advertiser Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, 41, known online as “Zoé Sagan,” whose social media accounts have been suspended. Another defendant, self-described medium and journalist Delphine J., known as “Amandine Roy,” helped circulate claims that Brigitte Macron’s brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux, had assumed her identity after transitioning. Her lawyer argued she merely commented on existing reports rather than directly targeting the First Lady.
The investigation, launched after a complaint filed by Mrs Macron in August 2024, led to multiple arrests in December 2024 and February 2025. The accused include a local elected official, a teacher, and an art gallery owner.
If convicted, they face up to two years in prison. The case underscores the growing intersection of misinformation, gender-based attacks, and online conspiracy networks targeting public figures worldwide.
