French president’s wife to offer evidence she is a woman in defamation case: reports
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, arrive together at an event. (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images)
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, plan to submit photographs and scientific documentation in a U.S. defamation lawsuit against commentator Candace Owens, reports say.
Who is Brigitte Macron and why is she suing Candace Owens?
The backstory:
Brigitte Macron is the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron and serves as France’s first lady. She and her husband have filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States against Candace Owens, a conservative commentator with a large online following.
Owens has repeatedly promoted a conspiracy theory claiming Brigitte Macron was born male — an allegation the couple’s lawyer says is false and damaging.
Their attorney, Tom Clare, told the BBC’s "Fame Under Fire" podcast that Brigitte Macron is prepared to provide proof, including photographs from her pregnancies, family records, and expert testimony.
"She is firmly resolved to do what it takes to set the record straight," Clare said. "If that unpleasantness and that discomfort… is what it takes to stop this, she’s 100% ready to meet that burden."
How the claims spread online
The rumor originated in French fringe media and gained traction in 2021 through a YouTube video by bloggers Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey. The Macrons initially won a defamation case against them in France in 2024, but an appeals court overturned the ruling in 2025, citing free expression rights.
Owens has since amplified the claim on her platforms, declaring in March 2024 that she would stake her "entire professional reputation" on it.
The lawsuit in the US
The Macrons filed a lawsuit in Delaware in July, accusing Owens of defamation and claiming she ignored credible evidence disproving the conspiracy. In American defamation cases involving public figures, plaintiffs must prove "actual malice" — meaning the defendant knowingly spread false information or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
Owens’ lawyers have filed a motion to dismiss, arguing the case should not be heard in Delaware and that defending it there would cause financial hardship.
For the French president and his wife, the case is about credibility and personal dignity. Emmanuel Macron told the French magazine "Paris Match" earlier this year: "This is about defending my honour! Because this is nonsense. This is someone who knew full well that she had false information and did so with the aim of causing harm."
What's next:
The Delaware court will decide whether the case can proceed. If it does, the Macrons say they are prepared to present their evidence in what could be a high-profile legal battle spanning two continents.
The Source: This report is based on coverage from the BBC, the Associated Press and additional reporting from "Paris Match."