A Paris court has convicted ten individuals for cyberbullying Brigitte Macron, the First Lady of France. The defendants were found guilty of disseminating false claims about her gender and sexuality, including allegations that she was born a man. Sentences ranged from cyberbullying awareness training to eight-month suspended prison terms, reflecting the severity of their actions.
The court characterized the comments as “particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious,” highlighting the emotional toll on Brigitte Macron. The allegations included false claims about her alleged trans identity and unfounded accusations of pedophilia linked to the age difference between her and her husband, President Emmanuel Macron, who is 24 years her junior. Some posts reached tens of thousands of views, amplifying the harmful nature of the misinformation.
Brigitte Macron did not attend the two-day trial held in October. In a statement to TF1 national television on Sunday, she explained that her legal action aimed to “set an example” against harassment. Her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, provided testimony regarding the detrimental effects of the online harassment on her mother’s life. Auzière expressed that the impact has extended beyond Brigitte to affect the entire family, including Macron’s grandchildren.
Defendant Delphine Jegousse, also known as Amandine Roy, played a significant role in spreading rumors after releasing a four-hour video on her YouTube channel in 2021. Another defendant, Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, who uses the name Zoé Sagan on social media, had his account suspended in 2024 following multiple judicial investigations linked to his activities. The group comprised eight men and two women aged between 41 and 65, including a teacher, an elected official, and a computer scientist.
During the trial, several defendants argued that their comments were intended as humor or satire, expressing confusion over their prosecution. This case follows years of conspiracy theories falsely claiming that Brigitte Macron was originally named Jean-Michel Trogneux, a name belonging to her brother.
The Macrons have sought to address the ongoing defamation through legal means. They have also filed a defamation suit in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens.
Brigitte Macron, who was previously known as Brigitte Auzière, was a teacher when she first met Emmanuel Macron, who was then a student. They have been married since 2007. Emmanuel Macron has served as France’s president since 2017, navigating the complexities of public scrutiny alongside the challenges of modern governance.
