Paris, January 5, 2026 – A Paris correctional court on Monday convicted 10 people—eight men and two women—for cyberbullying France's First Lady Brigitte Macron by spreading unfounded rumors that she is a transgender woman born male. The defendants, aged between 41 and 65, were found guilty of posting or sharing "particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious" comments online, including false allegations about her gender and sexuality, as well as linking the 24-year age gap with President Emmanuel Macron to pedophilia.
The court handed down sentences ranging from mandatory cyberbullying awareness training to suspended prison terms of four to eight months. One defendant, described as a property asset manager, received a six-month prison sentence, which may be served under home detention with conditions such as an electronic monitor. Additionally, all 10 were ordered to jointly pay approximately €10,000 (about $11,675) in moral damages to Brigitte Macron, and some face temporary bans from the social media platforms where they posted the content.
Brigitte Macron, 72, did not attend the two-day trial held in October 2025 but has been vocal about her reasons for pursuing legal action. In an interview on TF1 television the evening before the verdict, she stated that she launched the proceedings to "set an example" in the ongoing fight against harassment, particularly to support adolescents facing similar issues. "I fight all the time. I want to help teenagers fight against harassment. But if I don't show the example, it will be difficult," she said. Her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified during the trial about the "deterioration" in her mother's health and the broader impact on the family, including the president's grandchildren, noting that Brigitte Macron "cannot ignore the horrible things said about her."
Central to the case was Delphine Jegousse, 51, a self-described medium who goes by the online pseudonym Amandine Roy. Prosecutors identified her as a key figure in propagating the rumor after she published a four-hour YouTube video in December 2021 claiming Brigitte Macron was born male under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux—a name that actually belongs to her older brother. The video, which has since been removed, went viral and fueled widespread dissemination of the conspiracy theory. Jegousse received a six-month sentence. Other defendants included professionals such as a teacher, an elected official, a computer scientist, a gallery owner (Bertrand Scholler), and a publicist known online as Zoé Sagan (Aurélien Poirson-Atlan), who faced some of the heavier suspended sentences for their influential roles in amplifying the claims.
During the trial, several defendants defended their actions as "humor" or "satire." One, identified as Jerome A., 49, described posts alleging Brigitte Macron was a man or had male anatomy as "just a joke" in a satirical spirit. Others claimed they did not understand the basis for prosecution. The court rejected these defenses, emphasizing the "will to harm" and the cumulative damaging effects of repeated publications, some of which garnered tens of thousands of views.
Arrests related to the case occurred in December 2024 and February 2025, with all defendants initially denying wrongdoing. This trial stems from a broader wave of conspiracy theories that emerged around 2017, when Emmanuel Macron was first elected president, and intensified in far-right and QAnon-adjacent circles. The false narrative has persisted despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, including official records confirming Brigitte Macron's birth as a female in 1953.
The rumor gained international traction, particularly in the United States, where conservative podcaster Candace Owens repeatedly promoted it on her platforms, including an eight-part series titled "Becoming Brigitte." Owens has staked her "entire professional reputation" on the claim, despite its debunking. In response, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron filed a defamation lawsuit against Owens in Delaware Superior Court in July 2025, accusing her of orchestrating a "campaign of global humiliation." The 219-page complaint seeks substantial damages and includes plans to present "scientific" evidence and childhood photos proving Brigitte Macron's gender. The case remains ongoing, highlighting the cross-border challenges of combating online disinformation.
Brigitte Macron's lawyer, Jean Ennochi, welcomed the verdict, stressing the importance of immediate awareness training and social media restrictions for the defendants. "What is important is that there are immediate cyberbullying awareness trainings, and for some of the defendants, a ban on using their social media accounts," he told reporters.
This conviction marks a significant step in France's efforts to address cyberharassment, especially targeting public figures. It follows a separate 2024 defamation case won by Brigitte Macron and her brother against two women who originated similar claims, though that ruling was partially overturned on appeal before further appeals. Legal experts note that while freedom of expression is protected, the court's focus on malicious intent and harm sets a precedent for holding individuals accountable for coordinated online attacks.
The case underscores the personal toll of digital misinformation on high-profile individuals and their families. As Brigitte Macron continues her advocacy against school bullying and cyberharassment through initiatives like the Operation Pièces Jaunes campaign, this ruling reinforces her message that no one should endure such abuse in silence.
