A Paris court has convicted 10 individuals of cyberbullying Brigitte Macron, France’s first lady, for disseminating false online allegations about her gender and sexuality, including claims that she was born male. One defendant received a six-month prison term, while eight others were given suspended sentences ranging from four to eight months. All 10 were mandated to undergo cyberbullying awareness training.
The court highlighted the “particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious” nature of the comments, which falsely suggested that Brigitte Macron was transgender and a pedophile, emphasizing the harmful impact of the repeated publications.
The defendants, comprising eight men and two women aged between 41 and 65, were accused of making multiple false statements asserting that President Emmanuel Macron’s wife was born male and likening their 24-year age difference to pedophilia. Some of these posts garnered tens of thousands of views.
Brigitte Macron did not participate in the two-day trial held in October. However, in a TV interview on TF1 national television, she mentioned that she pursued legal action to set a precedent in combating harassment. Her lawyer, Jean Ennochi, stressed the importance of immediate cyberbullying awareness training and, for certain defendants, a prohibition on using their social media accounts.
During the trial, Tiphaine Auzière, Brigitte Macron’s daughter, testified about the detrimental impact of online harassment on her mother’s life, describing how the negative comments extended to the entire family, including Macron’s grandchildren.
One of the defendants, a property asset manager, was sentenced to six months in prison, which may be served at home under French law. Another defendant, Delphine Jegousse, known as Amandine Roy, received a six-month prison sentence for her significant role in spreading the false rumors about Brigitte Macron.
Aurelien Poirson-Atlan, also known as Zoe Sagan on social media, had his account suspended in 2024 following his involvement in several judicial investigations. Poirson-Atlan, along with a gallery owner, was given an eight-month prison sentence. The only defendant not sentenced to prison, a teacher, expressed remorse during the trial and was directed to undergo cyberbullying awareness training.
Several defendants will face a six-month suspension of their online access on the platforms where the offending posts were made. Additionally, all 10 individuals were collectively ordered to pay 10,000 euros in compensation to Brigitte Macron for moral damages.
Some defendants argued that their posts were intended as humor or satire and expressed confusion over the legal repercussions. The case follows years of baseless conspiracy theories alleging that Brigitte Macron was born under a different name, Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is actually her brother’s name. The Macrons have also filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens.
The couple, married since 2007, initially met when Emmanuel Macron was a student and Brigitte was a teacher at their high school. Brigitte Macron, aged 72, is 24 years older than her husband, Emmanuel Macron, who has been serving as France’s president since 2017.