Brigitte Macron Cyber-bullying Verdict: French Court Convicts 10 for Spreading Transgender Conspiracy Theories

They chose silence until the whispers became a roar. Now, a French court has finally drawn a legal line against the digital vitriol aimed at First Lady Brigitte Macron.

On January 5, 2026, a Paris court found 10 people guilty of cyber-bullying the wife of President Emmanuel Macron. The group was accused of orchestrating a campaign of false claims regarding her gender and sexuality, alongside making derogatory comments about the 24-year age gap between the couple.

The Brigitte Macron Cyber-bullying Verdict and Legal Consequences

The judge ruled that the eight men and two women acted with a "clear desire to do harm," describing their online remarks as degrading and insulting. Most defendants received suspended prison sentences of up to 8 months, while one individual was jailed immediately for failing to attend the trial. Several social media accounts were also ordered to be suspended.

A Shift from Silence to Litigation

For years, the Macrons were advised to ignore the gossip to avoid amplifying it. However, the scale of the attacks eventually forced a radical change in strategy. Tiphaine Auzière, the First Lady’s daughter, testified that the harassment severely affected her mother's health and led to her grandchildren being taunted at school.

Implications for the Candace Owens Defamation Case

This ruling serves as a precursor to a high-profile legal battle in the United States. The Macrons have filed a defamation lawsuit against right-wing influencer Candace Owens, who has repeatedly promoted the same conspiracy theories on her podcast, even stating she would stake her "entire professional reputation" on the false claim that Brigitte Macron is a man.