Paris: A Paris criminal court has convicted 10 individuals for their involvement in a cyberbullying campaign targeting France's first lady, Brigitte Macron. The campaign falsely alleged that Macron was transgender and a pedophile. The court handed down suspended sentences ranging from four to eight months and imposed additional penalties such as account suspensions and mandatory awareness courses.
According to Anadolu Agency - English, Brigitte Macron has expressed her desire to set an example in combating bullying, especially for teenagers. This statement was made during an appearance on French television. The accusations against her have persisted online, prompting the Macrons to file a lawsuit in July against Candace Owens, a right-wing US podcaster, for defamation.
The lawsuit, filed in Delaware, accuses Owens of spreading false claims that Brigitte Macron was born male and transitioned under a false identity. It also alleges that the Macrons are related, committing incest, and that Emmanuel Macron's presidency was orchestrated by the CIA. The 219-page complaint requests a jury trial on 22 counts related to these claims, including allegations made in an eight-part series on Owens' show and her refusal to retract the statements.
The false rumors about Brigitte Macron's gender identity have been circulating since 2021, beginning with a YouTube video posted by two French women. The video alleged she was once a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux, who is actually her brother. The Macrons have also pursued legal action against these women, taking their case to the highest appeals court following an overturned conviction by the Paris Court of Appeal.