French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte filed a defamation lawsuit against right-wing influencer Candace Owens on Wednesday over her oft-repeated claims that the First Lady of France was a man. The Macrons said in a lawsuit filed in Delaware Superior Court that the far-right commentator has waged a lie-filled “campaign of global humiliation” and “relentless bullying” to promote her podcast and expand her “frenzied” fan base. She had begun promoting the conspiracy theory in March 2024 and continued to double down on her claims despite the lawsuit on Wednesday.
The Macrons said the lies included that Brigitte Macron was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux — the actual name of her older brother.
“Every time the Macrons leave their home, they do so knowing that countless people have heard, and many believe, these vile fabrications. It is invasive, dehumanizing, and deeply unjust,” the complaint said.
The French President and his wife have repeatedly asked Owens to retract her claims — with President Donald Trump also getting involved earlier this year. The far-right commentator also said last month that the POTUS had personally called her to urge an end to the ongoing claims against Brigitte Macron.
Who is Candace Owens?
American political commentator and activist Candace Owens is well known for her far-right views and outspoken criticism of progressive ideologies. She first rose to prominence as a YouTuber — uploading provocative conservative content under the name RedPillBlack. Owen has served as a director for the conservative advocacy group and hosted political talk shows. She also founded the ‘Blexit Foundation’ which urged Black Americans to shift their allegiance away from the Democratic Party.
She has frequently made headlines over her controversial views and promotion of conspiracy theories — rejecting mainstream narratives on racism, criticising the Black Lives Matter movement, dismissing COVID-19 health mandates and more. Owen has repeatedly expressed support for Donald Trump but continues to clash with him on several issues.
Unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages
The 22-count complaint seeks an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages.
Wednesday’s lawsuit is a rare case of a world leader suing for defamation. US President Donald Trump has filed multiple defamation lawsuits, including against the publisher of The Wall Street Journal last week.
To prevail in U.S. defamation cases, public figures like the Macrons and Trump must show defendants engaged in “actual malice,” meaning they knew what they published was false or had reckless disregard for its truth.