French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, have initiated a high-profile defamation lawsuit against American right-wing podcaster and influencer Candace Owens. The 22-count civil complaint, filed on July 23, 2025, in Delaware Superior Court, accuses Owens of orchestrating a “relentless campaign of global humiliation” by spreading false claims that Brigitte Macron, France’s First Lady, was born male. The lawsuit alleges that Owens used these baseless assertions to boost her media platform, gain notoriety, and generate revenue.

Background of the Allegations

The controversy stems from a series of claims made by Owens, beginning in March 2024, when she stated on her podcast, then hosted by The Daily Wire, that she would “stake [her] entire professional reputation” on the assertion that Brigitte Macron is a man. These claims were amplified through an eight-part YouTube series titled Becoming Brigitte, as well as through social media posts, including on X, where Owens has a following of approximately 7 million. The lawsuit details a range of “outlandish, defamatory, and far-fetched fictions,” including allegations that Brigitte Macron stole another person’s identity, transitioned to become a woman, and is engaged in an incestuous relationship with President Macron. Additionally, Owens claimed that the Macrons are involved in forgery, fraud, and abuses of power, and that Emmanuel Macron was selected as president through a CIA-operated mind-control program, specifically referencing the MKUltra program.

The Macrons’ legal team, represented by attorneys from Clare Locke LLP and Farnan LLP, asserts that these claims are not only false but were made with “reckless disregard for the truth.” The lawsuit highlights that Owens ignored three retraction requests sent between December 2024 and July 1, 2025, choosing instead to double down on her allegations. The complaint further notes that Owens monetized these claims through her YouTube channel, which has 4.5 million subscribers, and by selling merchandise, such as T-shirts featuring Brigitte Macron’s image with the caption “Man of the Year.”

Legal Context and Challenges

The Macrons’ lawsuit is a rare instance of a sitting world leader pursuing defamation claims in a U.S. court. In the United States, defamation cases involving public figures like the Macrons require proof of “actual malice,” a stringent legal standard that demands evidence the defendant knowingly published false information or acted with reckless disregard for its truth. The Macrons’ legal team, led by attorney Tom Clare, who previously secured a $787.5 million settlement for Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News in 2023, argues that Owens’ actions meet this threshold. The complaint cites “incontrovertible evidence” disproving Owens’ claims, including documentation confirming that Brigitte Macron was born as Brigitte Trogneux, is not a blood relative of President Macron, and has borne three children from a previous marriage.

Broader Context of Disinformation

Disinformation targeting Brigitte Macron’s gender has circulated on social media for years, often intertwined with criticism of her 24-year age difference with President Macron, who is 47. The couple met when Emmanuel was a high school student and Brigitte was his drama teacher, a relationship that has been subject to public scrutiny but was described in the lawsuit as remaining “within the bounds of the law.” Similar false claims about Brigitte’s gender surfaced in France in 2021, when two women, Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey, posted a YouTube video alleging that Brigitte was born as Jean-Michel Trogneux, her brother’s name. A French court initially ordered the women to pay €8,000 in damages to Brigitte and €5,000 to her brother in September 2024. However, on July 10, 2025, a Paris appeals court overturned the convictions, ruling that the claims were made in “good faith” and constituted free speech. The Macrons have since appealed this decision to France’s highest court, the Court de Cassation.

The French case has fueled further conspiracy theories, with some X posts and international media amplifying the narrative. For instance, a post on X in January 2025 described the allegations as a “scandal,” while others have linked the claims to broader conspiracy networks in the United States and beyond. The Macrons’ U.S. lawsuit explicitly addresses this global spread, noting that Owens’ claims have caused “tremendous damage” by turning their personal lives into “fodder for profit-driven lies.”

Response from Candace Owens

Owens has shown no intention of retracting her statements. In a video posted on YouTube on July 23, 2025, she described the lawsuit as an “obvious and desperate public relations strategy” and claimed she first learned of it through the press. Her spokesperson, Mitchell Jackson, defended her actions, framing the lawsuit as an attack on her First Amendment rights as an American journalist. Owens has also stated that she requested an interview with Brigitte Macron before airing her podcast episodes, a claim the Macrons’ legal team disputes, asserting that she ignored credible evidence disproving her allegations.

Implications and Public Reaction

The lawsuit has drawn significant attention due to its rarity and the high-profile nature of the parties involved. Emmanuel Macron has previously spoken out against disinformation, stating in March 2024 that “the worst thing is false information and fabricated scenarios” that disrupt personal privacy. The Élysée Palace has described the lawsuit as a “private affair” and declined further comment. Meanwhile, Owens’ supporters, particularly within conservative circles, have rallied behind her, with some framing the legal action as an attempt by a foreign government to silence an American commentator.

The case also highlights broader issues of disinformation targeting public figures, with parallels drawn to similar false claims against figures like former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The Macrons’ lawsuit seeks both actual and punitive damages, as well as legal costs, emphasizing their intent to “set the record straight” and end what they describe as a “campaign of defamation designed to harass and cause pain.”

Ongoing Legal Battles

In addition to the U.S. lawsuit, Brigitte Macron is pursuing a separate cyberbullying complaint in France against four individuals, including Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, known as “Zoé Sagan,” for harassing comments about her gender, sexuality, and age difference with her husband. This case is set to be heard in Paris in October 2025. The French legal system’s handling of these cases, particularly the recent appeals court ruling, has sparked debate about the balance between free speech and defamation, further complicating the Macrons’ efforts to combat disinformation.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the case against Candace Owens is poised to test the boundaries of defamation law in the U.S., particularly in the context of international figures and the global reach of social media. The outcome could set a precedent for how public figures address disinformation campaigns in an era of rapidly spreading online narratives.

Related posts:

Coco Gauff Triumphs at French Open 2025: A Historic Victory for American Tennis Bastille Day 2025: Global Celebrations Highlight Unity, Diversity, and French Pride AOC Labels Trump ‘Rapist’, Sparks Defamation Debate Over Epstein Files Defamation in the Digital Age: High-Profile and NRI Cases to Watch