A trial has commenced in Paris for ten individuals accused of cyber-bullying Brigitte Macron, the wife of the French president. The accusations include spreading unsubstantiated claims about her gender and sexuality, and making remarks concerning the age difference between her and Emmanuel Macron. The defendants could face up to two years' imprisonment if convicted. This trial follows previous legal proceedings related to similar claims, including a lawsuit filed by the Macrons against US influencer Candace Owens.
Trial Proceedings
Ten individuals are appearing in court on Monday and Tuesday in Paris. Among the accused are an elected official, a gallery owner, and a teacher. They face accusations of disseminating unsubstantiated claims about Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality, as well as making remarks regarding the 24-year age difference between her and Emmanuel Macron. Conviction could result in a sentence of up to two years in prison.
Prior Legal Cases
Two of the defendants in the current trial, Natacha Rey, described as a self-styled independent journalist, and Amandine Roy, an internet fortune-teller, were previously convicted of slander last year. Their conviction stemmed from claims that Brigitte Macron never existed and that her brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux, had changed gender and assumed her identity. However, an appeals court later acquitted Rey and Roy, ruling that their statements did not constitute defamation. Mrs. Macron and her brother are appealing this decision.
Conspiracy Theory and International Promotion
A conspiracy theory suggesting that Brigitte Macron is a transgender woman has been in circulation since Emmanuel Macron first became president in 2017. These claims have reportedly gained traction in the United States, primarily through promotion by US influencer Candace Owens. In July, the Macrons filed a lawsuit against Owens, alleging that she "disregarded all credible evidence disproving her claim in favour of platforming known conspiracy theorists and proven defamers."
Tom Clare, the Macrons' lawyer in the case against Owens, stated that Brigitte Macron found the claims "incredibly upsetting" and that they served as a "distraction" to the French president. Clare was quoted as saying, "It is incredibly upsetting to think that you have to go and subject yourself, to put this type of proof forward." Emmanuel Macron has indicated that the legal action against Owens was about "defending his honour" and asserted that Owens had disseminated false information "with the aim of causing harm, in the service of an ideology and with established connections to far-right leaders."
Background of the Couple
Brigitte Macron first met Emmanuel Macron when she was a teacher at his secondary school. The couple married in 2007, when Emmanuel Macron was 29 years old and Brigitte Macron was 54.