French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron have filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States against far-right influencer Candace Owens, after she launched a global smear campaign suggesting that Brigitte Macron was “born male.” What began as a fringe conspiracy in France has now erupted into an international legal battle, spotlighting the rising threat of cross-border disinformation and online transphobia.
“Becoming Brigitte”: When a lie becomes a weapon
In January 2025, Candace Owens released a viral video series titled “Becoming Brigitte”, pushing a conspiracy theory that Brigitte Macron is actually a transgender woman and that her true identity is “Jean-Michel Trogneux,” her real-life brother. This false narrative, which first emerged on French fringe sites in 2017, has been debunked repeatedly — yet Owens resurrected it with renewed aggression.
With 6.9 million followers on X and 4.7 million subscribers on YouTube, Owens gave this fabricated story massive international reach, despite repeated legal warnings and requests to retract her claims — all of which she ignored.
The Macrons strike back — in a U.S. Court
On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, the Macrons filed a defamation lawsuit in Delaware, seeking “exemplary” damages, the amount to be decided in court. Their lawyers allege that Owens knowingly spread false claims and pursued a “deliberate disinformation campaign” in order to build her brand and monetize outrage.
This lawsuit isn’t just about protecting personal reputation — it’s a direct challenge to the global machinery of online defamation and political manipulation. The Macrons are turning the tables and demanding accountability — not just in France, but on American soil.
The origin: A toxic French conspiracy goes global
The conspiracy that fuels this lawsuit claims Brigitte Macron “never existed,” and that her brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux, assumed her identity after a gender transition — a grotesque and completely baseless narrative.
Two French women, Natacha Rey and Amandine Roy, were convicted in September 2024 for spreading this lie, and ordered to pay thousands in damages to Brigitte Macron and her brother. However, on July 10, 2025, a French appeals court overturned their conviction. Brigitte and Jean-Michel have since filed for cassation — France’s highest level of appeal.
Now, the Macrons are taking their fight beyond French borders.
Disinformation, misogyny, and transphobia collide
This lawsuit goes far beyond personal offense. It exposes how sexist and transphobic narratives are being weaponized against high-profile women — particularly those in politics. It also reveals how conspiracy theories mutate and spread, feeding off online echo chambers and reaching millions before facts can catch up.
Owens’ campaign is part of a broader strategy often used by far-right influencers: attack, dehumanize, monetize.
Legal Precedent in the Making?
If the U.S. court sides with the Macrons, the ruling could set a historic precedent: that digital defamation, even across borders, can and will be prosecuted. In an era of viral lies and global platforms, the law may finally become a tool to push back against algorithmic hate and personal destruction.