In a bold move that has sent shockwaves through the political and media landscape, Candace Owens has stood firm in her assertions regarding French First Lady Brigitte Macron, even as President Emmanuel Macron and his wife have initiated legal action. The Macrons have filed a defamation lawsuit against the prominent conservative commentator, accusing her of propagating a conspiracy theory that Brigitte Macron was born a man, identified by the name Jean-Michel Trogneux. This legal challenge, filed in Delaware, is detailed in a substantial 218-page complaint. The lawsuit contends that Owens has leveraged this claim across numerous podcast episodes and social media platforms, ostensibly to enhance her personal brand and capitalize on the ensuing public discourse. According to the filing, the Macrons assert they made repeated requests for Owens to cease these claims, but she allegedly intensified her rhetoric instead. The legal action seeks both financial damages and a public retraction from Owens.
Owens, who earlier this year produced an extensive eight-part YouTube series addressed the lawsuit head-on during a recent episode. She announced that she had been sued by what she termed the “First Lady-Man of France,” reacting with a dramatic gesture reminiscent of a scene from the film Gladiator. She directly addressed Brigitte Macron, characterizing the individual as a “goofy man” but acknowledging a certain boldness. “I’ll give it to you, you’ve got balls,” she said in her response. Owens further suggested that those advising Brigitte Macron on this legal strategy were misguided, questioning the wisdom of becoming the first sitting first lady of a nation to sue a journalist in a foreign country.
From Owens’ perspective, the lawsuit represents a transparent and desperate attempt at public relations damage control. She reiterated her conviction, stating it is “beyond obvious” that the French First Lady possesses male anatomy. Owens highlighted her own attempts to engage directly with Brigitte Macron for her documentary series, noting that her team’s inquiries were met with evasion, with officials reportedly unwilling to provide simple yes-or-no answers to emailed questions. Concluding her segment, Owens declared her intention to fight the lawsuit, asserting that the Macrons themselves are engaging in defamation through their legal filing and that she eagerly anticipates her day in court.
This situation unfolds against a backdrop of increasing scrutiny of media narratives and the boundaries of free speech, particularly concerning public figures. In an era where online platforms amplify voices and controversies at unprecedented speed, the legal battle between Owens and the Macrons underscores the complex interplay between personal reputation, political influence, and the digital public square.
Get the popcorn, this is bound to be an entertaining ride.
Owens, known for her sharp critiques, zeroed in on Brigitte Macron, 72, in a YouTube video last March.
This legal onslaught, featuring 22 counts, seeks substantial damages. It follows a recent ruling where two women convicted of smearing Brigitte Macron on similar grounds were cleared. The court deemed their claims made “in good faith” and based on public information.
Tom Clare of Clare Locke LLP, representing the Macrons, slammed Owens’ “relentless year-long campaign of defamation.” He declared, “Ms. Owens has promoted a preposterous narrative about the Macrons, including incendiary and verifiably false accusations of identity theft, incest, violent crimes, and mind control.”
This legal battle erupts as reports surface that Brigitte Macron has been deeply shaken by a barrage of online attacks, including the allegations that she was born male and had “sexually abused” her husband when he was a child.
