Is Brigitte Marcon really a man?
Executive summary
Multiple reputable news organisations report that claims Brigitte Macron “is a man” are an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory being spread online; French prosecutors called the allegations “malicious” and ten people stood trial for cyber‑harassment over such claims [1] [2]. The Macrons have pursued legal action in France and the United States against people who amplified the theory, and Brigitte Macron’s family say the rumours have harmed her mental health [2] [3].
1. The allegation and how it spread — a conspiracy, not verified fact
Since at least 2017 an online conspiracy has circulated claiming Brigitte Macron was assigned male at birth or is actually a man (sometimes named “Jean‑Michel Trogneux”); major news outlets describe these claims as unsubstantiated and part of a disinformation campaign rather than reporting any factual evidence to support them [1] [4] [5].
2. Legal and criminal response — prosecutions and civil suits
French prosecutors opened investigations after a complaint filed in August 2024 and arrested people in December 2024 and early 2025; ten defendants were put on trial in Paris accused of sexist cyber‑bullying for spreading false claims about Brigitte Macron’s gender and sexuality [6] [1] [5]. Separately, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron filed a defamation lawsuit in Delaware against podcaster Candace Owens for amplifying the theory in the US [2] [1].
3. Media amplification and prominent promoters
The story has been amplified by online influencers and right‑wing figures outside France; outlets note Candace Owens repeatedly promoted the theory on her channels and that the Macrons’ US suit accuses her of a “relentless year‑long campaign of defamation” [2] [1]. Investigative reporting and court filings cited in news coverage characterise the promotion as ideologically driven and as favouring sensational conspiracy over credible evidence [1] [2].
4. Impact on Brigitte Macron and why sources treat it as harassment
Brigitte Macron’s daughter testified that the rumours and online attacks caused her mother “deep anxiety” and a deterioration in her health; prosecutors described the online posts as “malicious comments” about the first lady’s gender and sexuality, which is why authorities pursued criminal charges for cyber‑harassment [3] [6].
5. Prior court decisions and contested claims in France
Some individuals who promoted variants of the story were previously convicted in 2024 for slander over other claims (such as that Brigitte never existed), though an appeals court later acquitted them on defamation grounds in that case; that split outcome illustrates how courts have had to weigh freedom of expression against reputational harm in this long‑running saga [1].
6. What credible sources do — and do not — assert
Major outlets covering the trial and lawsuits uniformly label the “Brigitte is a man” narrative as unsubstantiated, reporting it as a conspiracy and not as an evidenced fact [1] [4] [5]. Available sources do not mention any verified medical, documentary, or other authoritative proof that Brigitte Macron was born male; reporting instead documents arrests, trials and civil suits tied to the spread of those false claims [1] [6].
7. Motives, audiences and the politics of the story
Reporting highlights that the rumours feed on misogyny, political antagonism toward the presidency, and the virality economy of social media; outlets note the claims gained traction among certain US right‑wing audiences and conspiracy communities, suggesting an ideological and attention‑seeking motive behind much of the amplification [1] [2].
8. Bottom line for readers seeking the truth
Claims that Brigitte Macron “is a man” are part of a long‑running, widely reported disinformation campaign; reputable news organisations treat the allegation as unfounded and focus on the legal and personal consequences for the first lady, rather than any substantiation of the core claim [1] [6] [3]. If you want further primary documentation, court filings and the Macrons’ defamation suit in Delaware are the direct legal records that news outlets cite [2].