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History of conspiracy theories surrounding Brigitte Macron
Executive Summary
Brigitte Macron has been the target of a persistent, transphobic conspiracy narrative alleging she was born male; the claim surfaced around 2021, was amplified by fringe French actors and U.S. right‑wing figures (notably Candace Owens), and has prompted multiple legal actions in France and a 22‑count defamation suit in Delaware. The story has been spread across social platforms, resulted in criminal and civil trials for defendants accused of cyber‑bullying and slander, and produced documented personal harm to the Macron family, including testimony about anxiety and altered behavior [1] [2] [3].
1. How a Fringe Theory Turned International Targeting: tracing the rumor’s life cycle
The conspiracy that Brigitte Macron was “born male” traces to 2021 when a fringe French video and social‑media posts purported a false male identity, often invoking the name “Jean‑Michel Trogneux,” her brother’s name misused as a fabricated alias. French self‑styled journalists and a medium amplified the narrative locally, and U.S. influencers later recycled the theme, turning a niche rumor into transnational harassment. Platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok hosted iterations and memeified variants, enabling rapid repackaging and cross‑language spread. Legal responses in France began with defamation convictions (later appealed) and civil actions; the Macrons also pursued U.S. litigation to address amplification by American figures [4] [2] [5].
2. Courts and Charges: criminal trials, civil suits, and the Macron legal strategy
French authorities prosecuted individuals accused of sexist cyber‑bullying and slander for reposting or promoting the gender claims; ten people faced trial in Paris for conducting online campaigns that French prosecutors said constituted targeted harassment of the first lady. Earlier convictions of the originators were overturned on appeal, illustrating a contested legal landscape between free‑speech defenses and anti‑harassment law. Separately, the Macrons filed a 22‑count defamation lawsuit in Delaware against U.S. commentator Candace Owens, alleging deliberate amplification and monetization of false claims—an American venue choice intended to address cross‑border publication and profits linked to the smear [5] [1] [6].
3. Who amplified the story and why it expanded beyond France
Amplification occurred in two waves: initial French originators (a self‑described journalist and a spiritual medium) and later U.S. right‑wing commentators who promoted and merchandised the narrative. Candace Owens is the most prominent U.S. amplifier named in filings; she produced podcasts, merchandise and fundraising tied to the claims, which U.S. filings say transformed rumors into commercialized disinformation. The pattern reflects how domestic conspiracies can be repurposed by transnational media figures to reach larger audiences, leveraging both ideological audiences and platform mechanics to sustain attention [1] [2].
4. Human impact: testimony, anxiety, and changes to public life
Court testimony from Brigitte Macron’s daughter describes significant personal harm: persistent rumors have made it difficult for the first lady to live a normal life, caused deep anxiety, and altered both her public comportment and concerns about grandchildren facing bullying. The Macron family’s accounts present direct, documented emotional and reputational harm, which French prosecutors and civil plaintiffs cite as justification for criminal and civil remedies. News reports and trial records consistently describe this as the human consequence behind legal action, not merely abstract reputational dispute [7] [3].
5. Disinformation dynamics: motifs, longevity, and the “transvestigation” pattern
The false narrative fits a broader motif dubbed “transvestigation”—a tactic that invents or alleges secret male origins for prominent women to delegitimize them. It persisted despite legal setbacks because it is shareable: short videos, memes, hashtags (e.g., #JeanMichelTrogneux), and conspiratorial storytelling made it resilient. Courts have sometimes punished individuals but appeals and international amplification allowed the story to mutate and persist, demonstrating the difficulty of fully erasing conspiracies once networked across languages and platforms [4] [5].
6. Divergent legal outcomes and unresolved questions about platform responsibility
Legal outcomes vary: some French convictions occurred then were appealed, while the Delaware civil suit represents a new forum seeking damages and injunctions against U.S. amplification. These mixed results highlight unresolved issues about cross‑border defamation law, platform moderation, and the role of monetization in spreading falsehoods. Accountability remains uneven—individuals face trials, but systemic platform dynamics and transnational influencers complicate enforcement, leaving open questions about effective remedies to stop viral conspiracies targeting public figures [1] [6].