Trial Begins for Ten Accused of Online Harassment Against France’s First Lady
In a significant legal proceeding in Paris, ten individuals are facing allegations of cyberbullying Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron. The charges stem from offensive online comments suggesting, without basis, that the first lady is transgender.
The trial commenced on Monday, although Brigitte Macron was not in attendance. The Paris prosecutor’s office has charged eight men and two women with disseminating “numerous malicious comments” regarding her gender and “sexuality,” as well as making derogatory remarks about the couple’s age difference, labeling it as “pedophilia.” Seven of the accused appeared in court, while the remaining three were represented by their attorneys.
Aged between 41 and 60, some defendants have substantial social media followings, with their posts sometimes reaching tens of thousands of views. Delphine Jegousse, also known as Amandine Roy, a self-proclaimed medium and author, is noted for her influential role in propagating the rumors with a YouTube video in 2021. Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, another key figure, saw his X account suspended last year amid several judicial probes.
Other defendants include individuals from diverse professions such as an elected official, a teacher, and a computer scientist. The presiding judge indicated that the cyberbullying accusations have adversely affected Brigitte Macron’s physical and mental well-being.
For years, conspiracy theories have targeted the Macrons, falsely claiming Brigitte was born as Jean-Michel Trogneux, who is in fact her brother. This trial follows a defamation suit filed by the Macrons in July in Delaware, seeking “substantial” reparations from U.S. conservative influencer Candace Owens if she continues to assert these claims.
Owens, a prominent right-wing commentator, boasts approximately 4.5 million YouTube subscribers. Her notoriety increased when she was denied a visa to New Zealand and Australia in 2024 due to controversial comments about World War II.
The verdict from the Paris trial is expected at a later date. Meanwhile, Brigitte and Jean-Michel Trogneux previously won a defamation case against Jegousse and another individual, although a Paris appeals court later annulled the decision. They are currently appealing this ruling in France’s highest court.
Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte have been married since 2007, having met when he was a student and she a teacher at a high school. Brigitte, originally Brigitte Auzière, was then a married mother of three. Emmanuel Macron has served as France’s president since 2017.
