The French First Lady Brigitte Macron Fights Back and sued American podcaster Candace Owens for defamation in the United States Gender Identity Claims
In a dramatic turn of cross-continental drama, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron have sued American right-wing commentator and podcaster Candace Owens for defamation in the United States. The Macrons’ lawsuit, which was lodged in Delaware Superior Court, refers to the incendiary accusation that Brigitte Macron was born a man and assumed someone else’s identity assertions the Macrons call “absurd lies designed to incite hate.”
The Allegations: A Web of Smear and Speculation
The lawsuit centers around a series of podcasts titled “Becoming Brigitte“, published by Owens, that garnered more than 2.3 million views on YouTube alone. The Macrons claim that Owens has mounted a “global smear campaign” aimed at libeling the French First Lady for her own financial benefit and news attention.
Among the astonishing accusations made by Owens are that Brigitte’s true name is “Jean-Michel Trogneux” her older brother’s name and that she is a transgender female. The suit also cites repeated insinuations that the Macrons are blood cousins and that they have an illegitimate relationship because Brigitte is Emmanuel’s former teacher.
A Rare Legal Move by a World Leader
This is an unusual case: heads of state do not often bring defamation cases abroad. But the Macrons argue that the gravity and worldwide extent of the allegations make it necessary. Their lawyers say that Owens was formally offered three opportunities to withdraw the accusations before they went to court, but refused.
Brigitte Macron, 72, has previously dealt with similar accusations. In 2021, she won a defamation case in a French court against two women one of whom claimed to be a spiritual medium who spread gender-based conspiracy theories. However, that ruling was recently overturned by an appeals court, leading Brigitte to take the case to France’s highest court.
Owens Responds: “A PR Stunt”
Candace Owens also brushed off the lawsuit as “based on factual errors” and described it as a cynical PR tactic to shut her up and undermine her credibility. Owens claimed ignorance of the lawsuit despite continued legal letters since January. Owens’ spokesperson also designated the case as an “attack on First Amendment rights” by a foreign political actor and implied that Brigitte Macron’s failure to agree to interview requests inspired Owens’ in-depth investigation.
High Legal Standards Ahead
To win in an American court, the Macrons will have to clear a high legal hurdle. U.S. defamation laws insist that public figures demonstrate “actual malice” that false information was disseminated knowingly or with reckless disregard for the truth. Though difficult, this legal avenue highlights how seriously the Macrons take the harm caused.
Echoes Across Conservative Media
The furor has not been in a vacuum. Right-wing opinion leaders such as Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson have also weighed in on the allegations concerning Brigitte Macron’s identity, further expanding their dissemination across right-wing media outlets.
With Candace Owens having over 6.9 million following on X (or Twitter) and 4.5 million subscribers on YouTube, the ripple effects of what she is posting have gone far beyond niche followers. The lawsuit seeks to counteract that viral dissemination of misinformation with accountability and legal penalty.
Truth on Trial
The Brigitte Macron defamation lawsuit is not only an individual battle for respect, but a public struggle about disinformation, accountability, and the boundaries of free speech in the age of the internet. As the case develops, it may establish new standards for how international public figures react to cyber defamation and whether or not the web can ever be held to account.
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