"Paris court tries 10 over online abuse targeting Brigitte Macron"

Two women was not legally justified.

Ten individuals are set to face trial in Paris starting Monday, accused of online harassment targeting Brigitte Macron, France’s first lady. This marks the latest development in legal efforts on both sides of the Atlantic to counter persistent false claims that she was born male under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux.

The French case follows a defamation lawsuit filed by President Emmanuel Macron and his wife in the U.S. at the end of July regarding the widely circulated rumor. The lawsuit described the claims as "demonstrably false and deeply harmful," challenging assertions made by right-wing commentator Candace Owens that Brigitte Macron, 72, was born a man. According to the legal filing, evidence definitively refutes what it calls an "absurd narrative," which has fueled a global campaign of humiliation and harassment.

The Paris trial, unrelated to the U.S. proceedings, stems from a complaint lodged by Brigitte Macron in 2024. The ten defendants—eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60—stand accused of posting offensive remarks about the first lady’s gender, sexuality, and personal life. Some went as far as distorting the age difference between her and her husband in inflammatory ways. If found guilty, they could face up to two years in prison. Prosecutors allege the defendants deliberately spread malicious content, though all deny any misconduct.

The lawsuit in the U.S. clarified that Jean-Michel Trogneux is, in fact, Brigitte Macron’s 80-year-old brother, who resides in Amiens, the family’s hometown. He was present at both of Emmanuel Macron’s presidential inaugurations in 2017 and 2022. The Trogneux family is well known in the region for their chocolate business.

Brigitte Macron’s complaint in August 2024 triggered a police investigation, leading to arrests in December 2024 and February 2025. Among those facing trial is Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, 41, a social media figure known as "Zoé Sagan," associated with conspiracy circles. Another defendant is Delphine J, 51, a self-described medium who uses the pseudonym Amandine Roy.

Delphine J was previously involved in a defamation case brought by Brigitte Macron in 2022. In 2021, she hosted a lengthy YouTube interview promoting the false claim that the first lady had once been Jean-Michel Trogneux. Though she and her co-defendant were initially ordered to compensate Brigitte Macron and her brother in 2024, an appeals court later overturned the ruling, stating the case lacked legal basis—without endorsing the claims themselves.