A Paris court has delivered a landmark verdict, finding ten individuals guilty of the online harassment of France's first lady, Brigitte Macron. The group was convicted for maliciously posting and sharing baseless claims on social media that falsely alleged she was born a man.
The Verdict and Sentences
The defendants, eight men and two women aged between 41 and 60, included a school sports teacher, an art gallery owner, and a publicist. On Monday, the court handed down a range of sentences. These included compulsory courses on understanding online harassment and suspended prison terms of up to eight months. One man, a property developer who did not attend the hearings, received a six-month prison sentence. Several were also banned from accessing the social media platforms they used to spread the abuse.
All were found guilty of creating or disseminating malicious comments concerning Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality. For some, this harassment extended to equating the 24-year age gap between her and President Emmanuel Macron to paedophilia, exploiting the details of their relationship which began when she was his teacher.
A Family's Testimony and Widespread Impact
The personal toll of this sustained campaign was laid bare in court by the first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière. A 41-year-old lawyer, Auzière described how the falsehoods had led to a "deterioration of her health" and a "deterioration of her quality of life." She explained that her mother now worries daily about her appearance, fearful of further commentary.
"Not a day or week goes by when someone does not talk about this to her," Auzière stated. She highlighted the profound effect on the wider family, including Brigitte Macron's grandchildren who hear cruel taunts. "She's not elected, she has not sought anything, and she is permanently subjected to these attacks," her daughter added.
Legal Battles and a Determined Stance
This Paris trial represents the latest front in a broader legal effort by the Macron family to combat the persistent conspiracy theory. They have also initiated a defamation lawsuit in the United States against conservative commentator Candace Owens for amplifying the same false claim. The US filing clarifies that Jean-Michel Trogneux, the name falsely attributed to Brigitte Macron, is in fact her 80-year-old brother.
Speaking on French television ahead of the verdict, Brigitte Macron vowed to continue her fight. "People are playing with my family tree, claiming I'm a man," she said, pointing to her birth certificate as irrefutable proof. She expressed a desire to become a role model against bullying, stating, "I want to help teenagers fight against bullying, and if I do not set an example, it will be difficult."
The case underscores the severe real-world consequences of online abuse and the increasing willingness of public figures to pursue legal recourse against perpetrators of malicious disinformation.
