President Emmanuel Macron of France and his wife Brigitte Macron are taking legal action against U.S. influencer Candace Owens after she spread false and defamatory claims that Brigitte was not born a woman and is actually Emmanuel Macron’s brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux.
This Is the Evidence Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron Must Present to Confirm Her Gender Identity
The case was filed in Delaware, USA, with a 218-page complaint accusing Candace Owens of disseminating “absurd, defamatory and completely fictitious statements.” Among the allegations made by Owens are that Brigitte Macron was born male under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux (which is in fact her brother’s name), that she is not the biological mother of their children, and even that the President himself is the product of a CIA experiment or government mind-control program.
In their legal effort, the Macrons plan to present a variety of evidence, including images from Brigitte’s pregnancy and her child-rearing, under U.S. legal standards, as part of their proof. If the case moves forward, it could require both Macron and his wife to travel to the U.S. to testify in front of a jury.
This lawsuit reflects the culmination of years of rumors and misinformation. The rumors originally stemmed from a 2021 interview on a French esoteric YouTube channel called Médiumnisation, where a so-called medium and a person calling themselves Natasha Rey claimed to have conducted an investigation. Their claim was that Brigitte had died young and was replaced by her brother, who later changed sex and assumed her identity. Over time, the story was circulated widely on social media, especially by accounts linked to far-right groups.
Earlier legal proceedings saw Brigitte win a lower court ruling in Paris, but that was later overturned on appeal. The appellate court acquitted Owens and others of the 18 challenged articles, on the grounds that they acted in “good faith.” Only one part of the original complaint—relating to alleged corruption involving minors—fell under press law, but it too ended in acquittal. The Macrons have carried the case to France’s Supreme Court.
The Macrons maintain that the accusations have caused deep personal pain and served as a distraction, not just for Brigitte but also for Emmanuel. Their legal strategy underscores their belief in defending reputations and seeking the truth.
