Ten to Face Trial in Paris Over Cyberbullying of Brigitte Macron
Ten individuals will stand trial in Paris today, October 27, 2025, accused of online harassment and defamation targeting First Lady Brigitte Macron, stemming from the spread of false claims about her gender.
The Paris prosecutor’s office stated the eight men and two women, aged between 41 and 60, are accused of disseminating “numerous malicious comments” online concerning Brigitte Macron’s gender and sexuality, as well as falsely linking her age gap with President Emmanuel Macron to accusations of paedophilia. Several of the defendants are active social media users, with some posts garnering tens of thousands of views; a woman identifying as a medium and a suspended X (formerly Twitter) advertising executive are considered key figures in propagating the rumors. Others include an elected official, a teacher, and a computer scientist.
The case centers around long-standing conspiracy theories alleging Brigitte Macron was born a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux, and later transitioned. Jean-Michel Trogneux is, in fact, the name of Brigitte Macron’s brother. This trial follows a similar defamation suit filed by the Macrons in July against U.S. conservative influencer Candace Owens in a Delaware court, seeking “substantial” damages for her repeated claims. Owens, who has faced scrutiny for past controversial statements – including denying Nazi medical experimentation – has a substantial online following of approximately 4.5 million subscribers on YouTube. The Anti-Defamation League has documented Owens’ history of controversial remarks.
In September 2024, Brigitte and Jean-Michel Trogneux initially won a defamation suit against two women, but that ruling was overturned by a Paris appeals court in July, prompting a further appeal to France’s highest court. The Macrons, married since 2007, met when Emmanuel Macron was a student at the high school where Brigitte Macron taught. President Macron’s unconventional path to the presidency has often been a subject of public fascination. A verdict in the current Paris case is expected at a later date.
Officials stated the trial is intended to send a clear message about the consequences of online harassment and the spread of misinformation, and further proceedings are anticipated regarding the appeal of the previous defamation ruling.
