Emmanuel Macron sues Candace Owens over 'vile' claims that his wife Brigitte is a man
GEORGETOWN, DELAWARE: French President Emmanuel Macron and first lady Brigitte Macron have filed a sweeping defamation lawsuit against American political commentator Candace Owens, alleging that she led an aggressive, profit-driven campaign to spread false claims about the French first lady’s identity.
Filed in Delaware Superior Court on Wednesday, July 23, the lawsuit includes 22 counts, including defamation, defamation by implication, and false light. It marks the first legal action taken by the Macrons against a US-based media figure over the persistent claim that Brigitte is transgender, a theory the couple describes as “baseless, dehumanizing, and deeply harmful.”
Candace Owens' defamation campaign under fire
According to the 77-page complaint, Candace Owens’ statements extended far beyond a single post or comment.
The Macrons argue that she orchestrated a coordinated multimedia campaign aimed at amplifying the conspiracy theory to a global audience.
The lawsuit outlines how Owens used multiple online platforms to sustain and escalate the narrative. She launched an eight-part podcast series titled 'Becoming Brigitte,' which revisited and expanded upon the original claim.
The series included assertions that the first lady of France was born male, had assumed another person’s identity, and had concealed her past with the help of President Emmanuel Macron, whom Owens also falsely alleged to be a biological relative.
Owens also released a series of YouTube videos, including one provocatively titled 'Is France’s First Lady a Man?,' which further fueled the conspiracy.
According to the filing, this video was promoted through paid placements and viral marketing tactics on X (formerly Twitter), increasing its reach.
In addition, she began selling merchandise featuring phrases linked to the theory, effectively monetizing the defamatory content through e-commerce. The suit accuses Owens of transforming “an ugly lie into a revenue-generating brand.”
Lawsuit says Candace Owens dismissed official records, escalated conspiracy instead
The Macrons' attorneys began engaging with Candace Owens’ legal team privately more than a year ago, issuing formal retraction demands accompanied by birth records and other documentation intended to disprove the claims.
According to the complaint, the Macrons provided “incontrovertible evidence” that Brigitte Macron was born female under the name Brigitte Trogneux and has no familial ties to her husband.
Despite multiple formal requests, Owens allegedly escalated her rhetoric. The filing emphasizes that instead of issuing a correction, Owens “intensified her campaign,” producing more videos and broadening her accusations to include claims of espionage and government manipulation.
The lawsuit also states that Owens relied on discredited material originally published by a self-proclaimed clairvoyant and a fringe blog in France, sources that had already been dismissed by French courts. Nonetheless, Owens presented them to her American audience as original investigative reporting.
Macrons say false claims caused harassment, humiliation, and lasting damage
While financial damages are a central aspect of the lawsuit, the Macrons emphasize the severe emotional and personal consequences they have endured as a result of Candace Owens’ campaign.
According to the court filing, Brigitte Macron has faced increased harassment and public speculation both in France and abroad. The couple claims that the defamatory statements have led to lost business opportunities, reputational damage, and “intolerable personal intrusions.”
“Every time the Macrons leave their home,” the complaint states, “they do so knowing that countless people have heard, and many believe, these vile fabrications.” The lawsuit describes the impact on their private lives as “invasive, dehumanizing, and deeply unjust.”
Emmanuel Macron, speaking at a Paris event in March 2024, alluded to the toll of ongoing disinformation, calling it “the worst part of being president” and noting that such stories “disrupt your life, even in your most private moments.”
Candace Owens’ response and escalating defiance
On the same day the lawsuit was filed, Candace Owens responded on Instagram with a dismissive caption referencing the legal action: “I will be coming for this wig today. Stay tuned.”
She later uploaded a YouTube video in which she referred to the case as “an obvious and desperate public relations strategy,” accusing the Macrons of trying to suppress her free speech.
This defiance follows her earlier statement that she would “stake [her] entire professional reputation on the fact that Brigitte Macron is in fact a man”, a quote now used as promotional material across her brand’s digital platforms.
Owens has previously been involved in several high-profile controversies and legal disputes. In recent months, she has entered unrelated legal battles involving Hollywood figures and has appeared in interviews defending convicted media personalities, including Harvey Weinstein.
Macrons' lawyer warns of major payout
Tom Clare, the Macrons’ attorney and co-founder of the litigation firm Clare Locke, emphasized the seriousness of the case. “This is not political discourse,” he said. “This is deliberate disinformation presented as fact, intended to defame a public figure and her family.”
Clare noted that the case meets the legal threshold for punitive damages, citing Candace Owens’ intent to cause harm and profit from the false claims. He previously represented Dominion Voting Systems in its landmark defamation suit against Fox News, which ended in a historic settlement.
Although the Macrons have not specified the damages they are seeking, Clare hinted at a substantial award if Owens continues to circulate the allegations.
