Fact check: What are the origins of the Brigitte Macron transgender rumors?

1. Summary of the results

The transgender rumors about Brigitte Macron originated from a YouTube video posted by two women: Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey ^[1]. These women falsely claimed that Brigitte Macron was once a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is actually her brother's name ^[1]. The conspiracy theory began circulating after Emmanuel Macron's election in 2017 and was pushed by self-described journalist Natacha Rey and self-proclaimed spiritual medium Amandine Roy ^[2].

The false claims went viral before the 2022 presidential election, leading to a defamation trial against the two women who posted the video ^[3]. The rumors spread widely online, including among conspiracy theorists in the United States ^[1], and were amplified by accounts opposed to President Emmanuel Macron, including those on the political far-right, anti-vaccine groups, and followers of the QAnon conspiracy movement ^[4].

Both women were found guilty of slander over their gender claims against Brigitte Macron ^[4], and the First Lady has taken her case to the highest appeals court to continue her legal battle ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal several important contextual elements not immediately apparent in the original question:

• This phenomenon is part of a larger pattern called "transvestigation" - where baseless claims of being transgender are made against high-profile women ^[2]
• The rumors have been amplified by prominent American figures, specifically far-right commentator Candace Owens ^{[2] [5]}
• A book titled "Becoming Brigitte" has also fueled speculation about the First Lady's identity ^[5]
• The spread of these rumors was strategically timed around the 2022 presidential election, suggesting potential political motivations ^[3]

Political actors and conspiracy theory networks would benefit from promoting these false narratives as they serve to:

• Undermine the credibility of Emmanuel Macron's presidency
• Mobilize far-right and anti-establishment sentiment
• Generate engagement and followers for conspiracy theory content creators

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation or bias - it is a straightforward inquiry about the origins of these rumors. However, it's important to note that the question treats these as "rumors" rather than definitively false claims, which they have been proven to be through legal proceedings. The two women who originated these claims have been found guilty of slander in French courts ^[4], establishing these as legally determined falsehoods rather than mere rumors or allegations.

The framing as "rumors" could inadvertently legitimize what are actually deliberate false claims that have been weaponized for political purposes by various groups including far-right political movements and conspiracy theory networks.