Court Clears Women Who Accused Brigitte Macron of Being Born Male in Defamation Case
Court Clears Women Who Accused Brigitte Macron of Being Born Male in Defamation Case – The Paris Court of Appeal overturned a defamation conviction against two women on Thursday who alleged that Brigitte Macron, the First Lady of France, was born male.
The court ruled that their remarks fell within the boundaries of protected free speech and did not meet the legal threshold for defamation.
The case stemmed from a 2021 YouTube video in which Natacha Rey, a self-proclaimed journalist, and Amandine Roy, a clairvoyant, referred to Mrs Macron as a “swindle,” a “deception,” and a “state lie.”
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The claims, accompanied by photographs of Mrs Macron and her family, fed into a conspiracy theory that gained traction on social media, particularly in American far-right circles.
Brigitte Macron and her brother Jean-Michel Trogneux initially filed defamation charges in response to the accusations.
In September 2023, a lower court found Rey and Roy guilty, ordering them to pay €8,000 to Mrs Macron and €5,000 to her brother in damages.
However, the appellate court found that the contested video segments—18 in total—were presented in a manner consistent with “good faith” and did not constitute unlawful defamation.
While the court refrained from commenting on the veracity of the claims themselves, it upheld the women’s right to express controversial opinions.
Following the ruling, lawyers representing the defendants welcomed the outcome.
“We’re acquitted,” said Maud Marian, counsel for Amandine Roy. François Danglehant, representing Natacha Rey, added, “She was hunted, persecuted, condemned — but ultimately acquitted.”
By contrast, Jean Ennochi, legal counsel for Mrs Macron, expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, stating that discussions with his clients regarding possible next steps would follow.
Conspiracy theories about Mrs Macron’s gender have circulated in France since 2017, and resurfaced internationally this year when American commentator Candace Owens revived the claim in a viral video.
The ruling represents a legal setback for Mrs Macron’s ongoing efforts to combat the persistent rumours through the courts.
