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en individuals are set to go on trial in Paris over the alleged cyberbullying of France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron.
The defendants—eight women and two men, aged between 41 and 60—are accused of spreading “numerous malicious comments” online, including persistent conspiracy theories about her gender and sexuality. The two-day trial marks a major step in the Macrons’ ongoing legal battle against the online spread of false claims.
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, the accused circulated false allegations that Mrs. Macron was born male under the name “Jean-Michel Trogneux” and made derogatory remarks about the 24-year age gap between her and President Emmanuel Macron, which they allegedly described as “paedophilia.”
The defendants come from a wide range of professions, including an advertising executive (whose X account has since been suspended), a self-proclaimed medium, a teacher, a computer scientist, and a local elected official. Several were reportedly highly active on social media, with posts that sometimes garnered tens of thousands of views.
The conspiracy theories have trailed the Macrons for years and resurfaced recently after U.S. conservative commentator Candace Owens amplified the rumor online.
This is not the First Lady’s first legal battle over the matter. In September 2024, Brigitte Macron and her brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux, won a defamation case against two women fined for spreading the same claims. However, a Paris appeals court overturned that ruling in July, prompting the Macrons to appeal to France’s highest court.
Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron have been married since 2007. The two met when he was a student and she was a teacher at his high school. President Macron, 47, has served in office since 2017. A verdict in the current trial is expected at a later date.
