Ten people have been found guilty of cyber-bullying Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, by a Paris court.
The defendants were accused of spreading false claims about her gender and sexuality, as well as making malicious remarks about the 24-year age gap between the couple. Most of the defendants were handed suspended prison sentences of up to eight months, but one was jailed immediately for failing to attend court. Some had their social media accounts suspended.
The judge remarked that the eight men and two women acted with a clear desire to harm Brigitte Macron, making degrading online remarks. Among those convicted were individuals known for their controversial claims, including Natacha Rey and Amandine Roy, who had previously asserted that Brigitte Macron had never existed.
The two were initially found guilty of slander in 2024, but were later cleared on appeal. The appeals court's decision raised questions about the implications of gender change claims, with the Macrons now taking this case to the high court of appeal.
Brigitte Macron’s lawyer stressed the importance of preventive measures and social media account suspensions following the verdict. Her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified about the severe impact of the cyber-bullying on her mother's health and the well-being of their family.
The ruling comes ahead of a significant defamation lawsuit the Macrons have filed against Candace Owens in the United States, who has perpetuated similar conspiracy theories about the first lady, alleging disregard for factual evidence.
Initially, the Macron couple considered ignoring the online rumors, but they ultimately decided that the attacks had escalated to a level that could no longer be overlooked, prompting their legal action against the conspiracy theorists.
Brigitte Macron's relationship with Emmanuel Macron has been a topic of speculation since his presidency began in 2017, particularly hyper-focused on their age difference and false allegations about her gender.
