A French court has convicted ten individuals for orchestrating a campaign of online harassment against the nation's first lady, Brigitte Macron. The legal action stemmed from a barrage of false and malicious posts that spread the baseless conspiracy theory that she is a transgender woman.
The Nature of the Abuse and Court Sentences
The defendants, comprising eight men and two women aged between 41 and 60, were found to have published what the court described as "particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious" comments targeting Ms Macron's gender and sexuality. Their posts, some viewed tens of thousands of times, also repugnantly linked the couple's 24-year age gap to paedophilia. President Emmanuel Macron is 48 and his wife is 72; they met when he was her student at secondary school and married in 2007.
On Monday 5 January 2026, the court delivered its verdicts, handing down a range of penalties. Sentences varied from mandatory cyber bullying awareness training to suspended prison sentences of up to eight months.
A Family's Testimony and a Fight for Example
While Brigitte Macron did not attend the two-day trial held in October, her daughter, Tiphaine Auziere, provided powerful testimony. She detailed the "deterioration" of her mother's life as the online vitriol intensified, stating that Ms Macron "cannot ignore the horrible things said about her." Auziere emphasised that the impact of the harassment has rippled through the entire family, affecting even Ms Macron's grandchildren.
In a television interview with TF1 on Sunday following the verdicts, the first lady explained her motivation for pursuing legal action. She stated she launched proceedings to "set an example" in the broader battle against digital harassment and abuse.
Conspiracy Theories and International Legal Action
The false claims centred on the absurd allegation that Brigitte Macron was born male under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is in fact the name of her brother. This conspiracy theory has circulated for years in certain online circles.
The Macron's legal fight extends beyond French borders. The couple is also pursuing a defamation lawsuit in the United States against right-wing commentator and podcaster Candace Owens, who has propagated the same false claims.
The case highlights the severe real-world consequences of online abuse, even when directed at public figures. It sets a precedent in France for holding individuals accountable for coordinated harassment campaigns spread under the guise of satire or humour, defences several of the defendants attempted to use in court.
