French First Couple Escalates Legal Battle Over Gender Conspiracy Allegations

Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron pursue defamation charges against conservative commentator Candace Owens for promoting false claims about the first lady's identity.

By Lubowa Babu Hussein

July 23, 2025 at 9:59 PM

3,260 views

Key Takeaways

French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron are suing American commentator Candace Owens in Delaware for defamation over false claims about Brigitte Macron's gender identity.
The lawsuit alleges Owens spread debunked conspiracy theories through her podcast and social media, refusing to retract despite evidence disproving the claims.
The Macrons must prove Owens acted with 'actual malice'—knowingly spreading false information—to win the case under U.S. defamation law.
Owens has a history of promoting controversial and conspiracy-adjacent content, including skepticism of COVID-19 vaccines and historical events.
The case reflects growing tensions between public figures and misinformation spread through social media platforms.

Macrons Challenge Online Rumors in US Court

French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron have initiated a defamation lawsuit in Delaware against American political commentator Candace Owens, alleging she persistently spread baseless claims about Brigitte’s gender identity. Legal documents filed Wednesday accuse Owens of promoting “reckless fabrications” through her podcast and social media platforms, where she commands millions of followers.

Candace Owens at public event — Owens has built a following through conservative commentary and conspiracy-adjacent claims

The Core Allegations

Central to the dispute are Owens’ repeated assertions that Brigitte Macron was assigned male at birth—a debunked conspiracy theory previously circulating in fringe online communities. The first lady’s attorneys emphasized Owens amplified these claims in her “Becoming Brigitte” video series and refused retraction requests despite evidence disproving the narrative. The lawsuit also cites Owens’ promotion of other falsehoods, including an alleged CIA plot behind Macron’s presidency and fictitious claims of familial ties between the couple.

Legal Strategy and Precedents

The Macron family’s legal team stated that pursuing litigation became “the only viable path” after Owens ignored multiple attempts to resolve the matter privately. Under U.S. defamation law, the plaintiffs must demonstrate Owens acted with “actual malice”—knowingly spreading false information. This case follows a French libel ruling in 2023 against two individuals promoting similar claims, though an appeals court later overturned the verdict.

“Ms. Owens’ actions were calculated to inflict emotional harm and exploit sensationalism,” the Macron family said in a statement. “We exhausted all diplomatic avenues before resorting to legal action.”

Owens’ Controversial Portfolio

Owens, formerly associated with conservative groups Turning Point USA and The Daily Wire, transitioned to independent content creation earlier this year. Her commentary frequently intersects with conspiracy narratives, including skepticism of COVID-19 vaccines and historical events like the Holocaust. The lawsuit additionally targets her Delaware-based business entities, seeking unspecified financial penalties.

Context: Owens is married to British-American executive George Farmer, whose father—a Conservative Party peer—has publicly distanced himself from her controversial stances. The case highlights escalating tensions between public figures and social media-driven misinformation campaigns.