France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron, is preparing to take an extraordinary step in court: presenting both photographic and scientific evidence to prove she is a woman.
The move comes as Brigitte and her husband, French President Emmanuel Macron, pursue a lawsuit against American right-wing commentator Candace Owens. Owens has been one of the loudest voices spreading a viral conspiracy theory claiming the French First Lady was born a man, allegedly her brother Jean-Michel Trogneux.
Owens has doubled down on her claims, even posting in March 2024 that she would “stake [her] entire professional reputation” on the theory being true. At the same time, she has filed a motion to dismiss the Macrons’ case against her.
The couple’s attorney, Tom Clare, told the BBC that the conspiracy has been deeply damaging, describing it as a “campaign of global humiliation.” He confirmed that Brigitte, though dismayed at having to do so, is determined to provide proof of her biological sex in the most public of forums.
“It’s incredibly upsetting to think you have to go this far,” Clare explained. “But she’s ready. She’s resolved to do whatever it takes to put an end to these lies.”
The legal team has signaled that expert testimony—“scientific in nature”—will be central to their case. Photographs of Brigitte pregnant and raising her children may also be submitted as part of the evidence, ensuring it meets strict courtroom standards.
Filed in July 2025, the lawsuit accuses Owens of intentionally spreading falsehoods to boost her profile, ignoring “all credible evidence” to the contrary. “These claims are demonstrably false, and Owens knew it,” the suit argues. “Her motive is clear: not truth, but fame.”
President Macron, while continuing to manage the responsibilities of leading France, has reportedly felt the personal toll of the attacks on his wife. “When your family is under attack, it wears on you,” Clare said. “He’s not immune just because he’s president.”
The case against Owens comes on the heels of a French court overturning libel convictions against Amandine Roy, a self-styled spiritual medium, and Natacha Rey, an independent journalist, who had also promoted the same theory online. Both women are now named in the Macrons’ U.S. lawsuit, while Brigitte continues her legal battle in France’s highest court.
Owens, meanwhile, has framed the lawsuit as an attack on her freedom of speech. Her spokesperson told PEOPLE, “Candace Owens is not shutting up. This is a foreign government attacking the First Amendment rights of an American journalist.”
The spokesperson added, “In France, politicians may be able to bully reporters. But this is not France—it’s America.”
