French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, have filed a defamation lawsuit against U.S. influencer and podcaster Candace Owens. The legal action stems from Owens’ repeated claims that the French first lady was “born male” and various conspiracy theories surrounding their family and political rise.
In a 22-count complaint filed July 23, 2025, in Delaware Superior Court, the Macrons accuse Owens of launching a “campaign of global humiliation” and “relentless bullying” to expand her online presence.
They argue the conspiracy theory—that Brigitte was born Jean‑Michel Trogneux and later transitioned—is “verifiably false and devastating,” designed to inflame audiences.
The Macrons also cite allegations of incest, identity theft, CIA mind-control involvement, and other baseless claims aired in Owens’s “Becoming Brigitte” series.
Legal Stakes and Public Response
The suit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, asserting the defendants must prove “actual malice” for their statements.
Macron’s attorney Tom Clare described the lawsuit as “a clear-cut case of defamation” that was “really a last resort,” following repeated requests for a retraction.
“Each time we’ve done that, she mocked the Macrons, she mocked our efforts to set the record straight. Enough is enough,” Clare stated.
Owens Fires Back
Owens has responded defiantly, labelling the lawsuit part of “an obvious and desperate public relations strategy,” and said she was unaware of the filing until its public release.
“This is a foreign government attacking the First Amendment rights of an American independent journalist,” a spokesperson added.
On her podcast, Owens claimed the complaint is “littered with factual inaccuracies.” She also expressed eagerness for discovery, suggesting high-profile figures, including former President Trump, might be deposed in the case.
Broader Implications
This case marks one of the rare instances where a serving head of state has taken defamation action in a U.S. court.
The Macrons had previously pursued legal remedies in France. In 2021, Brigitte won a defamation suit against two women over similar transgender claims—though that ruling was overturned earlier this month, and the couple has appealed to France’s Court of Cassation.
The lawsuit underscores an escalating clash between public figures and influencers, with misinformation spreading rapidly online. It also raises serious questions about the boundary between free speech and harmful defamation—especially when foreign governments are involved.