French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, have filed a defamation lawsuit in Delaware Superior Court against U.S. conservative influencer Candace Owens. The Macrons accuse Owens of spreading false claims that Brigitte Macron, 72, was born male and is actually Jean-Michel Trogneux, her brother’s name.
The complaint describes Owens’ allegations as a “campaign of global humiliation” aimed at boosting her podcast’s audience. It cites Owens’ eight-part series “Becoming Brigitte,” which has over 2.3 million YouTube views, alleging false narratives about the couple’s marriage, family, and personal history — including unfounded claims of identity theft and incest.
Owens denied wrongdoing, calling the lawsuit “an obvious and desperate PR strategy” and arguing it violates her First Amendment rights. Her spokesperson described the suit as a “foreign government attacking an American journalist,” adding that Brigitte Macron had refused interview requests.
The Macrons said they sought retractions on three occasions before pursuing legal action. Public figures like the Macrons face a high bar in U.S. defamation cases, requiring proof of “actual malice,” meaning the defendant knowingly spread false information or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
This marks a rare defamation case by a sitting world leader. It comes amid heightened attention to similar legal battles, including former President Donald Trump’s lawsuits against media outlets.
Brigitte Macron previously won a defamation case in France over similar rumors, though that ruling was recently overturned on appeal and is now before France’s highest court. The Delaware case, titled Macron et al v. Owens et al, could set a precedent in cross-border defamation disputes involving high-profile political figures.