Macrons Sue Candace Owens for Defamation in US Court
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, and his spouse have initiated a defamation lawsuit against Candace Owens, an American right-wing influencer and podcaster. This legal action comes in response to Owens’ assertions that Brigitte Macron, the French First Lady, is a male.
A Campaign of “Global Humiliation”
Filed in the Delaware Superior Court, the lawsuit accuses Owens of spreading malicious falsehoods to promote her podcast and expand her fan base, which the Macrons described as “frenzied”. The lies allegedly disseminated by Owens include the claim that Brigitte Macron was originally born as Jean-Michel Trogneux, the actual name of her elder brother.
In the lawsuit, the Macrons stated that Owens distorted facts about their personal lives, marriage, acquaintances, and family, transforming them into a grotesque narrative intended to provoke and tarnish their reputation. This has resulted in the couple experiencing “relentless bullying on a worldwide scale”.
“A Foreign Government Attacking First Amendment Rights”
A representative for Owens responded to the lawsuit by claiming it was a form of bullying after Brigitte Macron declined Owens’s multiple interview requests. The spokesperson declared Owens will not be silenced, framing the lawsuit as an attack on the First Amendment rights of an American independent journalist by a foreign government.
The Macrons, through their legal representatives, stated they decided to sue after Owens refused to withdraw her defamatory statements despite three requests. They accused Owens’ defamation campaign of being a deliberate attempt to cause them distress and attract publicity. Despite giving Owens numerous chances to retract her false claims, she declined.
A Rare Lawsuit from a World Leader
It is not common for a world leader to file a defamation lawsuit. A notable exception is former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has also sought legal redress against defamation, including a $10-billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal for publishing false information about him.
Owens, with a substantial following on social media and YouTube, has been accused by the Macrons of disseminating “verifiably false and damaging lies” through her podcast, “Becoming Brigitte”, and related social media posts. These include claims that Brigitte Macron stole someone’s identity, transitioned to female, and is involved in an incestuous relationship with her husband.
Unfounded speculations about Brigitte Macron’s gender first surfaced in 2021 and have since been a topic of discussion on popular American podcasts hosted by conservative personalities like Tucker Carlson and Joe Rogan.
In September, Brigitte Macron won a lawsuit in France against two women who helped spread these rumors about her gender, but the decision was recently overturned on appeal. Brigitte Macron is now appealing to France’s highest court.
