French President Macron and Wife Sue Influencer Candace Owens for Defamation

French President Emmanuel Macron (48) and his wife Brigitte Macron (72) have filed a defamation lawsuit against American right-wing influencer Candace Owens (36) for spreading false information about their personal lives. Owens has responded, claiming that the lawsuit is merely a publicity strategy aimed at damaging her reputation.

According to the Financial Times on July 23, the Macron couple submitted a 219-page complaint to a U.S. court, alleging that Owens has distorted their private lives into a bizarre narrative that has led to international harassment. They are seeking punitive damages.

In a statement, the Macrons expressed that they felt compelled to take legal action after Owens continued to make false claims despite repeated requests from their lawyers for corrections. They accused Owens of causing distress to their family for the sake of gaining attention. A representative for the Macrons indicated that they are prepared to travel to Delaware if necessary for the court proceedings.

Candace Owens is a popular influencer with 4.48 million followers on YouTube. She is known for her rare pro-Republican stance as a Black woman and has gained notoriety for her critical views on Black Lives Matter and other civil rights movements. Owens has also attracted supporters by advocating against feminism and for the deportation of illegal immigrants. However, she has also been associated with various conspiracy theories, including the claim that Brigitte Macron was born male. This theory suggests that Brigitte was originally named Jean-Michel and underwent gender reassignment surgery before marrying Macron. Jean-Michel is actually the name of Brigitte's late brother. In March of last year, Owens stated, "I would bet my life that Brigitte is a man."

Emmanuel Macron, who became the youngest president in French history at age 39, first met Brigitte while attending high school in Amiens, where she was his literature and drama teacher. At the time, Brigitte was a married woman with three children, but their relationship continued, and they married in 2007, a year after her divorce.

Owens has consistently suggested that the Macrons are related by blood and that Macron's presidency is part of a CIA plan. Following the news of the lawsuit, Owens mocked Brigitte on her YouTube channel, calling her a "very silly man" and claiming that the lawsuit is filled with inaccuracies and is a desperate publicity tactic.

The conspiracy theory regarding Brigitte's gender has circulated on social media since Macron's presidency began. Brigitte previously sued two French women for defamation over these claims, but a recent ruling by a French appeals court overturned an earlier decision that required the women to pay her €8,000 (approximately $12,000), citing a lack of malice. Brigitte has since appealed to the Supreme Court.