Brigitte Macron Sues Candace Owens in U.S. Court Over Defamation Claims
French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron have filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States against political commentator Candace Owens over gender-related claims.
Owens made the claims during a series on her podcast, alleging that Brigitte Macron was born male—an allegation the Macrons say is false, defamatory, and part of a broader “smear campaign.”
On Wednesday, the 219-page complaint was filed in Delaware state court.
In it, Owens is accused of engaging in a campaign to spread “demonstrably false” claims across multiple platforms, including social media posts stemming from her eight-part series.
The lawsuit names Owens and her companies, which are incorporated in the state of Delaware.
“These lies have caused tremendous damage to the Macrons,” the complaint states.
The filing also alleges that Owens’ commentary has resulted in “global humiliation” and has led to public harassment and ridicule of the French first couple.
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The lawsuit also alleges that Owens “has dissected their appearance, their marriage, their friends, their family, and their personal history — twisting it all into a grotesque narrative designed to inflame and degrade.”
It further claims Owens’ efforts have created an environment of “relentless bullying on a worldwide scale.”
The filing argues that Owens’ commentary has turned the Macrons’ private lives into a source of content for “profit-driven lies,” and asserts that the couple now feels targeted.
The legal action follows a French appeals court decision that cleared two women previously convicted of defamation for suggesting Brigitte Macron was born male.
While that ruling appeared to weaken the Macrons’ position under French law, it prompted them to pursue legal action in an American jurisdiction, where Owens and her media companies are based.
The case highlights the added complexity to President Macron’s political reputation in France, where he is already facing numerous economic and domestic challenges.
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The Macrons have not commented publicly beyond the court filings.
READ: Macron Says Face Slap From Brigitte is Fake News: ‘Everyone Needs to Calm Down’