PARIS (BN24) — Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, is preparing to submit scientific and photographic documentation in a U.S. court as part of a defamation lawsuit aimed at disproving false claims promoted by American conservative commentator Candace Owens. The legal move comes after Owens repeatedly alleged that the French First Lady was born male — an accusation the Macrons have described as baseless and deeply distressing.
The lawsuit, which has attracted international attention, seeks to hold Owens accountable for a series of public statements and online posts that questioned Brigitte Macron’s gender, framing her as a man posing as a woman. Speaking on the BBC’s Fame Under Fire podcast, the couple’s legal representative, Tom Clare, confirmed that the Macrons are determined to counter the misinformation with verifiable evidence.
“This is incredibly upsetting for her, and a distraction for the President,” Clare said. “I don’t want to suggest that it somehow has thrown him off his game. But just like anybody who is juggling a career and a family life, when your family is under attack, it wears on you. And he’s not immune from that because he’s the president of a country.”
Clare emphasized that Brigitte Macron is prepared to go to significant lengths to disprove the widely circulated conspiracy theory. “She’s willing to subject herself to provide scientific evidence and expert testimony,” he said. “It is incredibly upsetting to think that you have to go and put this type of proof forward, but she’s firmly resolved to do what it takes to set the record straight.”
The defamation suit marks a rare move by a European political figure in engaging with the American legal system over claims made on U.S. soil. It underscores growing concerns about the global spread of disinformation and the role of high-profile media personalities in fueling unverified personal attacks.
Brigitte Macron, a former schoolteacher, has long faced public scrutiny due to her age difference with the French president, who is 25 years her junior. However, the latest wave of online speculation — amplified by figures like Owens — has crossed into territory the Macron family sees as defamatory and harmful.
While neither Owens nor her legal team has responded publicly to the lawsuit, the case is expected to draw significant media coverage as it progresses through the U.S. judicial system. Legal experts note that proving defamation in the United States — particularly when public figures are involved — presents a high bar, requiring clear evidence of falsehood and malicious intent.
Still, the Macrons appear resolute in their efforts to combat what they view as an outrageous and dehumanizing attack. The case not only aims to clear Brigitte Macron’s name but also serves as a broader statement against the spread of conspiracy theories targeting public figures, particularly women in politics.
As misinformation continues to blur the lines between free speech and defamation, the outcome of this case could set important legal precedents in the digital age — particularly in how personal identity is protected in the public sphere.
