Paris Court Finds 10 Guilty Of Cyberbullying French First Lady

A Paris court on Monday found ten people guilty of cyberbullying France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron, over false online claims about her gender and sexuality, including the baseless assertion that she was born male. Judges described the abuse as “particularly degrading, insulting and malicious.” One defendant was sentenced to six months in prison, while eight others received suspended sentences ranging from four to eight months. All ten were ordered to attend cyberbullying awareness programmes.

The case is part of broader legal efforts by President Emmanuel Macron and his wife to counter the false claim that Brigitte Macron is a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux — who is, in fact, her brother. The couple has also filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States against conservative podcaster Candace Owens for repeating the allegation. During the trial, defendants also made offensive remarks about the 24-year age gap between the Macrons.

Brigitte Macron’s daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, said the online abuse had taken a toll on her mother’s health and quality of life. Brigitte Macron herself said her attackers ignored clear evidence of her identity, stressing that official documents such as a birth certificate are not meaningless. She added that she hopes to set an example for young people by standing up against online bullying.