Key Takeaways:
- French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte filed a defamation lawsuit against Candace Owens over viral claims Brigitte was born male.
- The Macrons allege Owens ignored “credible evidence” and doubled down, fueling what they call worldwide bullying.
- Case reignites debate on where free speech ends and defamation begins in the age of influencer media.
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte are taking their battle from the court of public opinion to an actual courtroom. The couple has filed a defamation lawsuit against conservative commentator Candace Owens over allegations that Brigitte was born male—a claim the First Lady of France flatly denies, calling the rumors “traumatizing.”
According to the complaint, Owens “dissected their appearance, their marriage, their friends, their family, and their personal history twisting it all into a grotesque narrative designed to inflame and degrade.” The filing continues: “The result is relentless bullying on a worldwide scale. Every time the Macrons leave their home, they do so knowing that countless people have heard, and many believe, these vile fabrications. It is invasive, dehumanizing, and deeply unjust.”
The lawsuit seeks damages against Owens and her companies, claiming she ignored efforts to correct the record. “Owens was repeatedly presented with credible, verifiable evidence disproving her claims including documentation, public records, and direct outreach from the Macrons,” the complaint alleges. “Instead of correcting the record, she doubled down. … Owens, fully aware of the truth, has not only declined to retract her statements but has actively expanded on them.”
This case highlights a growing global tension between free speech, personal reputation, and the lightning-fast spread of rumors in the digital age. As courts weigh in, the broader question remains: Where does vigorous debate end and defamation begin? And who decides—politicians, influencers, or the marketplace of ideas?