The Digital Frontline: A Legal Battle Against Baseless Claims
The fight against malicious online disinformation has escalated significantly in France. Consequently, a Paris criminal court has opened a high-profile trial involving ten individuals—eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60—accused of online harassment targeting French First Lady Brigitte Macron. This legal action represents a key moment, marking a decisive pushback against a virulent, entirely unsubstantiated conspiracy theory. Namely, this persistent rumor falsely claims that the First Lady was born male, suggesting she is a transgender woman named “Jean-Michel Trogneux.” Brigitte Macron
This French trial, initiated following a legal complaint filed by Brigitte Macron in 2024, stands separate from other legal efforts. Specifically, the Macrons have also filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States against a high-profile right-wing podcaster who amplified these “verifiably false and devastating lies” to a global audience. Therefore, the legal battle is being fought on both sides of the Atlantic, simultaneously.
The Charges: Cyber-Harassment and Malicious Comments Brigitte Macron
The ten defendants in the Paris trial face serious criminal charges of cyber-harassment. If convicted, they could each face a sentence of up to two years in prison. Furthermore, prosecutors assert that the accused engaged in making numerous malicious comments about Brigitte Macron’s gender and sexuality. Moreover, these comments often included equating the 24-year age difference between her and President Emmanuel Macron to “paedophilia.”
Brigitte Macron herself provided testimony to the police. Significantly, she described the online comments as “hateful” and expressed the deep distress they caused her family. She emphasized how incredibly difficult it was for her grandchildren to hear the false and widespread rumor that their grandmother was actually a man. Brigitte Macron
Defense Arguments: Humor, Satire, and Information Brigitte Macron
However, the defendants vehemently deny any wrongdoing. Their defenses, articulated during the early court proceedings, often center on the concepts of satire, humor, and freedom of expression. For instance, one defendant, an IT technician, admitted to reposting nine social media posts about the claims, but he insisted they were simply “a joke” and done “in a satirical spirit.” Consequently, he questioned why he was on trial for mere tweets.
Another defendant, a debt adviser, offered a similar defense. He stated that he enjoyed posting on social media from his sofa in the evenings, claiming his posts were “just humour.” Crucially, he asked the court, “Do you need a permit in France to crack a joke?” Furthermore, he confusingly stated that he shared posts about the First Lady being a man or a paedophile merely in order to “inform” others. Therefore, the court must now weigh the line between satirical free speech and criminal harassment.
The Roots of the Rumor: A Digital Spreading Campaign Brigitte Macron
The specific, baseless gender claim that Brigitte Macron was born a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux—the actual name of her older brother—began circulating widely as far back as 2021. In essence, the rumor gained explosive traction following a four-hour interview posted on a YouTube channel. This particular video featured a self-proclaimed spiritual medium, one of the current French defendants, interviewing a self-described independent journalist. Subsequently, the claims were rapidly amplified by far-right and conspiracy theorist groups, particularly those already expressing deep distrust of mainstream political and media institutions, especially in the wake of the pandemic. Brigitte Macron
Admittedly, the Macrons’ long-standing relationship has been a frequent topic of public interest. Brigitte was a married teacher at the high school where she met a 15-year-old Emmanuel Macron. She later divorced and married him in 2007 when he was 30. Naturally, this age difference has often invited commentary. Nevertheless, the gender conspiracy theory moves far beyond standard political criticism, representing a coordinated effort of deeply personal and malicious falsehoods designed to humiliate.
Previous Legal Battles and International Scope Brigitte Macron
The current trial is not the first time the Macrons have sought legal recourse. Earlier, in a separate civil case, Brigitte Macron and her brother won a defamation suit in 2024 against two women, including one of the current criminal defendants, for spreading the claims. However, that conviction was later overturned on appeal. Importantly, the appeals court ruled the case did not meet the definition of defamation, a legal technicality that did not imply the claims themselves were true. Consequently, the First Lady has since taken that case to France’s highest appeals court. Brigitte Macron
The international dimension of this issue is also highly significant. For example, the US lawsuit against a conservative podcaster alleges that she used the claims to promote her platform and gain notoriety. Moreover, the Macrons’ US lawyer has stated they plan to submit scientific evidence to the court to definitively prove that Brigitte Macron was born a woman. Ultimately, the willingness of a current political couple to take such exhaustive legal measures underscores the profound harm caused by this global “campaign of humiliation.”
A Wider Pattern: Targeting Powerful Women
The attack on Brigitte Macron is, regrettably, not an isolated incident. Indeed, conspiracy theories about gender and sexuality have frequently targeted other high-profile women in politics and public life. Specifically, former US First Lady Michelle Obama, former US Vice President Kamala Harris, and former New Zealand Premier Jacinda Ardern have all been subjected to similar online disinformation campaigns.
Experts suggest this pattern is rooted in a desire to attack influential women, particularly those who are politically left-leaning or who challenge traditional gender roles. Therefore, asserting that these women are secretly disguising their true identity becomes a way of mapping societal anxieties about broader gender issues onto them personally. Consequently, the criminal trial in Paris represents a critical legal attempt to establish the boundaries of acceptable discourse, simultaneously protecting the dignity of public figures and drawing a clear line against malicious, transphobic harassment in the digital age. Ultimately, the court’s verdict will send a powerful message about the legal consequences of unchecked cyber-harassment. Brigitte Macron
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