A Paris criminal court has convicted ten individuals for orchestrating a sustained campaign of online harassment against France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron, centered on false claims about her gender identity. The ruling represents a significant legal milestone in France’s efforts to combat cyber-bullying and disinformation targeting public figures.
Long-Running False Claims and Online Abuse
Brigitte Macron has been the subject of persistent online conspiracy theories alleging that she is a transgender woman born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux. That name, in reality, belongs to her older brother. Despite repeated denials and documentary evidence, the false narrative has circulated widely on social media platforms for years.
In addition to gender-related falsehoods, both Brigitte Macron and President Emmanuel Macron have faced malicious commentary about their age difference, with some online users making defamatory and highly offensive comparisons.
Court Ruling and Sentences Handed Down
The court found eight men and two women guilty of cyber-harassment for spreading defamatory and degrading content targeting the First Lady’s gender and sexuality. Some of the messages crossed into extreme territory, with judges citing comments that framed the couple’s age gap in criminal terms.
Sentences varied in severity. One defendant received an unsuspended six-month prison sentence, while others were given suspended jail terms of up to eight months. Additional penalties included financial fines, mandatory participation in cyber-harassment awareness programs, and bans from the social media platforms used to publish the abusive content.
Satire Defense Rejected by the Court
Several of the convicted individuals argued that their posts were satirical or humorous in nature. The court rejected that defense, ruling that the comments constituted targeted harassment rather than protected expression.
One defendant, a gallery owner and writer, announced plans to appeal his suspended sentence, criticizing the ruling as an erosion of free speech. The verdict arrives amid broader international debate over online regulation, with U.S. political figures recently accusing European governments of overreach in policing digital content.
Brigitte Macron: “I Want to Set an Example”
In a recent television interview, Brigitte Macron explained that her legal actions are driven by a desire to set a precedent for others, particularly young people facing online abuse. She described the harassment as relentless, citing incidents in which attackers allegedly interfered with her personal administrative records.
She emphasized that official documentation, including birth records, clearly establishes her identity, and expressed frustration that such evidence is ignored by those spreading falsehoods. According to the First Lady, confronting cyber-bullying publicly is essential if victims—especially adolescents—are to feel empowered to defend themselves.
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