Ten Convicted for Cyberbullying Brigitte Macron as a Man

A total of ten individuals have been found guilty of cyberbullying due to false accusations that Brigitte Macron was secretly transgender and involved in paedophilia. The convicted individuals include eight men and two women, aged between 41 and 60, with sentences ranging from four to eight months of suspended imprisonment. One defendant, Jean-Christophe P., a 65-year-old property manager, received a six-month custodial sentence. He was tried in absentia after failing to attend the court hearing in Paris.

Judge Thierry Donnard, who presided over the case, stated that the defendants were found guilty of "intentionally harming the plaintiff" through "malicious, degrading and insulting" messages that targeted Mrs Macron's alleged involvement in paedophilia. He emphasized that the sustained online attacks constituted cyberbullying and had negatively impacted her physical and mental health. Mrs Macron, who married Emmanuel Macron in 2007, did not attend the two-day trial, which took place in October.

During the proceedings, Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, 41, a social media activist known online as Zoé Sagan, continued to spread his claims about a "shocking state secret involving state-sanctioned paedophilia." He was given an eight-month suspended sentence. His X account was previously suspended last year following its association with multiple judicial investigations.

Bertrand Scholler, 56, an art dealer, was sentenced to six months of suspended imprisonment for posting mocking photomontages of Mrs Macron. After the verdict, he claimed the ruling was "a decision by decree of power," adding that "if what you say does not please, you will be condemned."

Delphine Jegousse, 51, who uses the alias Amandine Roy and describes herself as a "medium and author," was also given a six-month suspended sentence. Prosecutors highlighted her significant role in spreading the conspiracy theory after releasing a four-hour YouTube video in 2021. The video portrayed Mrs Macron’s supposed gender identity as evidence of a state cover-up. At the hearing, she expressed feeling "attacked" by the French first lady's supposed trans identity, stating she is "a biological woman."

Other convicted individuals included several "followers," such as a teacher, a computer scientist, and an elected official. Prosecutors argued that these individuals contributed to the abuse by repeatedly amplifying the false claims.

The core of the case revolved around the false allegation that Mrs Macron was born a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux. In reality, this is the name of her brother. Mrs Macron filed her complaint in August 2024, after her lawyers indicated that the cyberbullying had become unbearable.

Speaking on television before the verdict, she said, "I fight constantly against harassment. But if I don’t set an example, how can I ask young people to do the same?" Although Mrs Macron did not appear in court, her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, 41, testified that she had noticed a "change and a deterioration" in her mother due to the baseless claims.

The case also gained international attention. In America, conservative influencer Candace Owens amplified the claims in a video series titled Becoming Brigitte, which was viewed by millions. The Macrons have initiated a defamation lawsuit in Delaware, seeking "substantial" damages if Owens continues to repeat the allegations.

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