Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron to Present Scientific Proof in Defamation Case Against Candace Owens

Paris, France – September 19, 2025 – French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, are preparing to submit scientific and personal evidence in a U.S. court to confirm that Brigitte is biologically female. This move is part of a defamation lawsuit filed against conservative commentator Candace Owens, who has repeatedly claimed that Brigitte, aged 72, was born male and transitioned later in life. The legal battle, unfolding in Delaware’s Superior Court, underscores a growing tension between combating online falsehoods and defending free speech.

The Roots of a Harmful Rumor

The controversy began in 2021 with French bloggers Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey, who spread a baseless theory in a YouTube video. They alleged that Brigitte, born Brigitte Trogneux, was originally her brother Jean-Michel Trogneux, living as a man before assuming a female identity. The claims spun a wild narrative of forged documents and family secrets, accusing the Macrons of deception. Brigitte and her brother quickly took legal action in France, winning a defamation case in 2024, though an appeals court later overturned the ruling, citing free expression protections. The Macrons are now appealing to France’s highest court.

The rumor gained international traction when Candace Owens, a U.S. influencer with a massive following on platforms like X, embraced it. In March 2024, Owens boldly stated on her podcast that she would “bet [her] entire career” on Brigitte being male. She expanded this narrative in an eight-part podcast series, Becoming Brigitte, blending unverified claims about Brigitte’s past with interviews from known conspiracy theorists. The Macrons’ lawsuit accuses Owens of ignoring clear evidence to the contrary, using the allegations to boost her fame and audience.

Brigitte, a former drama teacher who met Emmanuel when he was a 15-year-old student in 1993, has faced public scrutiny for their 24-year age gap and her role as a mother of three from a prior marriage (with children born in 1975, 1977, and 1984) and grandmother of seven. Her brother, Jean-Michel, a resident of Amiens, has appeared publicly at Emmanuel’s presidential events in 2017 and 2022, debunking claims of his “disappearance.”

A High-Stakes U.S. Lawsuit

The Macrons filed their defamation suit against Owens and her companies on July 23, 2024, in Delaware, where her businesses are registered. The complaint alleges that Owens launched a deliberate “global smear campaign” through her podcasts, videos, and social media, reaching millions. As public figures under U.S. law, the Macrons must prove “actual malice”—that Owens knowingly spread lies or showed reckless disregard for the truth, per the 1964 New York Times Co. v. Sullivan standard.

Owens’ legal team has pushed back, filing a motion to dismiss and arguing that Delaware lacks jurisdiction since her businesses’ operations aren’t tied to the state. They call the lawsuit a “politically driven” attack on Owens’ free speech, labeling her an “independent journalist” targeted for her opinions. Owens remains unapologetic, framing her claims as protected commentary and standing by her narrative.

The case’s cross-border nature raises legal complexities, including questions about France’s stricter defamation laws and whether Delaware is the proper venue. Experts suggest the outcome could shape how international defamation cases involving online influencers are handled in the digital age.

Scientific and Personal Evidence to Counter Lies

The Macrons’ legal strategy hinges on what their attorney, Tom Clare of Clare Locke LLP, describes as “scientific” expert testimony to definitively prove Brigitte’s biological sex. Speaking on the BBC’s Fame Under Fire, Clare hinted that the evidence would be both broad and specific, though he kept details under wraps for courtroom impact. Alongside this, the Macrons will present intimate family photos, including images from Brigitte’s pregnancies and her years raising her children. These deeply personal records, while emotionally taxing to share, aim to leave no doubt about her identity.

Clare acknowledged the toll this process takes on Brigitte, noting it’s “heartbreaking” to have to prove such fundamental truths. Yet, he emphasized her resolve to “meet the challenge head-on” and clear her name. Emmanuel Macron, in a Paris Match interview in August 2024, called the allegations “utter nonsense” and accused Owens of exploiting lies for attention, tying her rhetoric to far-right agendas. He stressed that the lawsuit is about restoring his family’s dignity, not letting the claims distract from his leadership.

A Broader Fight Against Misinformation

This legal showdown goes beyond the Macrons’ personal struggle, highlighting the dangers of online conspiracy theories targeting women in the public eye. Similar unfounded gender-based claims have haunted figures like Michelle Obama and Jacinda Ardern, revealing a pattern of digital harassment. Owens’ platform, amplified by social media, shows how influencers can spread misinformation for profit or clout, blurring the line between opinion and harm.

For Brigitte, who transitioned from teaching to France’s first lady, the case is a stand against years of unfair scrutiny over her age, marriage, and family. By fighting in a U.S. court, the Macrons are taking the battle to Owens’ home ground, using America’s legal system to expose her tactics. As the court weighs the motion to dismiss, the case could either pave the way for a landmark reckoning or falter on technicalities, leaving the truth in limbo.