A Paris court has convicted ten individuals for cyberbullying Brigitte Macron, the First Lady of France, by disseminating false claims about her gender and sexuality. The court’s ruling, delivered on Monday, follows a two-day trial in October 2023, where the defendants faced charges related to the spread of malicious online comments, including allegations that she was born a man.
The sentences varied, with some defendants receiving cyberbullying awareness training, while others were handed eight-month suspended prison sentences. The court described the defendants’ remarks as “particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious,” highlighting the severe nature of the false claims that not only targeted Brigitte Macron but also implicated her relationship with her husband, Emmanuel Macron, in inappropriate contexts.
Details of the Case
Among those convicted are eight men and two women, aged between 41 and 65. They were accused of posting numerous derogatory comments, suggesting that the 24-year age difference between Brigitte Macron and her husband was indicative of pedophilia. The online posts garnered significant attention, with some viewed tens of thousands of times.
Brigitte Macron did not attend the trial, but she spoke to TF1 national television, expressing the need for legal action to “set an example” against harassment. Her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified about the negative impact that the harassment has had on her mother’s life, stating, “She cannot ignore the horrible things said about her.” Auzière also noted that the distress has affected the entire family, including Macron’s grandchildren.
One of the primary figures in the spread of misinformation was Delphine Jegousse, a 51-year-old known as Amandine Roy, who is an author and self-identified medium. Jegousse played a significant role in the case after releasing a four-hour video on her YouTube channel in 2021 that propagated these harmful rumors. Another defendant, Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, 41, was suspended from the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in 2024 after being implicated in various judicial investigations.
Several defendants claimed their comments were intended as humor or satire, expressing confusion over the charges against them. This defense was not well received by the court, which emphasized the serious nature of the allegations and their harmful effects.
Background and Implications
The case is part of a broader context of conspiracy theories that have falsely alleged that Brigitte Macron was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is actually her brother’s name. These unfounded rumors have persisted for years, leading to the Macrons filing a defamation lawsuit in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens.
Brigitte Macron and Emmanuel Macron, who have been married since 2007, first met at a high school where she was a teacher and he was a student. Their relationship has faced scrutiny due to the significant age difference; Brigitte Macron is 24 years older than her husband. Emmanuel Macron, now 48, has served as France’s president since 2017.
The convictions mark a significant move against online harassment in France, reinforcing the need for accountability in the digital space. As social media continues to influence public discourse, the outcome of this case may set a precedent for how similar issues are addressed in the future.
