Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron File New US Defamation Lawsuit Against Podcaster Candace Owens

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte have filed a new defamation lawsuit in the United States against American conservative podcaster Candace Owens, alleging that she has continued to spread false claims regarding Mrs. Macron's gender identity for financial gain.

The legal action was submitted last week in a federal court in Tennessee, the state where Owens resides. The 411-page complaint asserts that Owens has used false statements about Brigitte Macron to promote her platform, build notoriety, and generate revenue through donations and merchandise sales.

Details of the Lawsuit and Allegations

The new lawsuit follows a ruling in late October regarding a previous complaint filed by the Macrons in Delaware in 2025. In that case, a judge dismissed individual claims against Owens due to jurisdictional limits while permitting proceedings against her corporate entities to move forward. The Macrons contend that following the initial legal action, Owens expanded her false claims through her podcast and social media content, including a video series titled "Becoming Brigitte."

According to the court documents, the Macrons argue that Owens' statements are defamatory not because of any inherent shame in being transgender or gay, but because they falsely accuse the couple of deceiving the public and committing crimes to cover up an alleged lie about Mrs. Macron's identity. The filing states that the claims have caused significant damage and subjected the couple to widespread humiliation. Owens acknowledged the latest suit on Monday in a post on X, confirming that a new set of claims had been filed against her.

Background on Defamation Claims

False rumours asserting that the 73-year-old French first lady was born a man have circulated periodically on social media since Emmanuel Macron was first elected president in 2017, before gaining wider attention abroad when Owens covered the topic in March 2024. Legal action has also taken place in France regarding the allegations. In September 2024, two women were convicted by a French court for spreading false claims after publishing a 2021 video alleging that Brigitte Macron was originally a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux, who is in fact her brother.