French Court Convicts 10 in Disinformation Campaign Targeting Brigitte Macron
A French court has convicted ten individuals on Monday for spreading a baseless conspiracy theory claiming Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, is a transgender woman who previously lived as a man. The case highlights the growing legal challenges surrounding online disinformation and its impact on public figures.
The convictions stem from a campaign of harassment that originated in 2017, following Emmanuel Macron’s initial presidential election victory. The false narrative alleged that Brigitte Macron was born Jean-Michel Trogneux, a brother of the President, and had undergone a sex change. A formal complaint of cyberbullying was filed in 2024, leading to the October trial and subsequent sentencing.
Eight men and two women, aged between 41 and 60, received suspended prison sentences ranging up to eight months. Because none of the defendants had prior criminal records, they will avoid immediate incarceration provided they adhere to specific behavioral guidelines.
The most severe penalties were handed down to those identified as the primary instigators of the disinformation. Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, who operates under the pseudonym Zoé Sagan on social media, was sentenced to eight months in prison for a series of offensive posts, including claims that Brigitte Macron is “a man” and accusations of pedophilia. A woman described as a psychic, Delphine J., received a six-month sentence for disseminating a video on YouTube questioning the First Lady’s identity. Similarly, art dealer Bertrand Scholler was convicted for creating a digitally altered image of Brigitte Macron.
The remaining seven individuals were deemed “followers” and received sentences between four and eight months. Several of those convicted are required to complete a digital literacy course focused on the consequences of online offenses.
According to statements made during the trial, the prosecution initially sought sentences of three to twelve months, a range considered less stringent than what the First Lady had anticipated. The origins of the rumor, as noted, trace back to 2017 and gained traction across various social media platforms.
The Macrons are also pursuing legal action in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens, alleging defamation related to a series of videos titled “Becoming Brigitte” that perpetuate the same false claims. This case is particularly noteworthy as it represents one of the few instances of a sitting head of state confronting disinformation in a foreign country. In the U.S. legal proceedings, Brigitte Macron may be required to provide evidence of her sex, including pregnancy photos. She was already a mother of three children when she met Emmanuel Macron.
The emotional toll of the relentless disinformation campaign was underscored by Tiphaine Auzière, Brigitte Macron’s daughter, who testified in October. She stated that the “campaign of hate” has forced her mother to constantly monitor her behavior, even her clothing choices and posture, fearing that any aspect of her image could be exploited.
Brigitte Macron herself, while not present at the Paris trial, previously stated that the rumors have impacted her family, with her grandchildren being subjected to the false narrative. “I stand with teenagers who fight against bullying, so if I don’t set an example, it will be difficult,” she remarked in a recent interview with French television station TF1, prior to the verdict.
