A Paris court has convicted ten individuals for online harassment targeting France's First Lady, Brigitte Macron. The convictions stem from the dissemination of false claims regarding her gender and identity, including allegations that she was born male, and accusations linking her age difference with President Emmanuel Macron to paedophilia. Sentences issued by the court ranged from mandatory cyberbullying awareness training to eight-month suspended prison terms, with one individual receiving a six-month jail sentence for non-attendance.
Court Verdict and Accusations
On Monday, a Paris court found eight men and two women, aged between 41 and 65, guilty of cyberbullying and online harassment. The charges related to numerous comments posted on social media and other online platforms. These posts falsely asserted that Brigitte Macron was born male and that her birth name was Jean-Michel Trogneux, the actual name of her elder brother. Additionally, the defendants were accused of associating the 24-year age difference between Brigitte Macron and her husband, Emmanuel Macron, with allegations of paedophilia.
The court cited comments described as "particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious," noting that some of these publications had been viewed tens of thousands of times. The judicial body emphasized that "repeated publications have had cumulative harmful effects." The trial itself took place over two days in October.
Sentences and Penalties
The sentences delivered by the court varied depending on the defendant's role and actions:
- Eight individuals received suspended prison sentences, ranging from two to eight months.
- One defendant, absent from the hearing, was sentenced to six months in jail.
- The tenth person was ordered to participate in a course focused on combating hate speech online, aligning with mandatory cyberbullying awareness training required for all ten individuals.
- Several defendants also had their social media accounts suspended for six months on the platforms where they made their posts.
Brigitte Macron's lawyer, Jean Ennochi, highlighted the importance of immediate cyberbullying awareness training and the suspension of social media access for some defendants as significant outcomes of the verdict.
Key Defendants and Their Defense
Among those convicted, several individuals were identified for their prominent roles:
- Delphine Jegousse (known as Amandine Roy), 51: An individual identifying as a medium and author, she received a six-month prison sentence. Jegousse was considered a key figure in spreading the claims after releasing a four-hour video on her YouTube channel in 2021.
- Aurélien Poirson-Atlan (known as Zoé Sagan), 41: He received an eight-month prison term. His X account was suspended in 2024 following mentions in several judicial investigations. Prosecutors had sought a longer sentence for him during the trial.
- Other defendants included an elected official, a teacher, a computer scientist, a property asset manager, and a gallery owner.
During the trial, several defendants stated their comments were intended as humor or satire and expressed a lack of understanding regarding their prosecution. Gallery owner Bertrand Scholler, 56, reportedly stated that the trial was an attack on his "freedom to think" and part of a "media deep state."
Background and Impact
The conspiracy theory alleging that Brigitte Macron is a transgender woman has circulated online since her husband's election as president in 2017. Brigitte Macron, 72, and Emmanuel Macron, 48, have been married since 2007. They first met when she was his teacher at a high school, and she was then known as Brigitte Auzière, a married mother of three.
Brigitte Macron did not attend the trial but indicated in a statement on TF1 national television that the legal proceedings were initiated to "set an example" in combating harassment. She emphasized the legal importance of a birth certificate in relation to the false claims. Her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified during the trial about the negative impact the online harassment had on her mother's life and the wider family, including Macron's grandchildren.
Related Legal Actions
This French ruling precedes a separate defamation lawsuit filed by the Macrons in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens. Owens is accused of disseminating similar conspiracy theories regarding Ms. Macron's gender on her podcast and social media channels. In March 2024, Owens publicly stated that her professional reputation rested on her belief that Ms. Macron "is in fact a man." Some of the individuals convicted in the Paris trial had reportedly shared posts originating from Ms. Owens.
The case also follows prior legal proceedings in France where, in 2024, independent journalist Natacha Rey and Amandine Roy were initially found guilty of slander for similar allegations but were later cleared on appeal. The appeals court stated that asserting a gender change does not necessarily constitute an "attack on honour." The Macrons are currently appealing this decision to a higher court.