Justice Served: Ten Found Guilty of Cyber-Bullying Brigitte Macron

Thu Jan 08 2026 13:48:38 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A Paris court has found ten individuals guilty of cyber-bullying France's First Lady, Brigitte Macron, following a series of online attacks that included false claims about her identity and malicious remarks about her marriage.

In a significant ruling, a Paris court convicted ten individuals for cyber-bullying Brigitte Macron, the wife of President Emmanuel Macron. The defendants faced charges for spreading harmful misinformation and derogatory comments concerning her gender and the age difference in her marriage. Most received suspended sentences, while one was jailed for missing court. The ruling highlights the damaging effects of online harassment, particularly on public figures, and precedes a larger defamation case the Macrons are pursuing against a prominent influencer in the US.

A Paris court has ruled against ten individuals found guilty of cyber-bullying Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron. The accused faced charges for making malicious online remarks, perpetuating falsehoods regarding her gender and sexuality, and denigrating the couple's 24-year age difference.

The ruling resulted in suspended sentences of up to eight months for most defendants, while one individual received an immediate jail term for not attending court. The presiding judge expressed that the defendants had acted with intent to harm, delivering degrading comments about the First Lady.

Previously, two defendants—self-proclaimed independent journalist Natacha Rey and internet fortune-teller Amandine Roy—were convicted for slandering Macron. They claimed she did not exist, alleging her brother had assumed her identity after changing gender. However, they were acquitted on appeal, with the court stating that claiming a gender change wasn't an outright attack on someone's honor.

The Macrons are now appealing that acquittal to a higher court. Following the latest conviction, Brigitte Macron's lawyer, Jean Ennochi, emphasized the importance of preventive measures and account suspensions for the bullying defendants.

Macron’s daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified during the trial that the cyber-bullying had adversely affected her mother's health, influencing how she presents herself publicly. The First Lady has expressed a desire to navigate her public image carefully due to the harassment, which has also impacted her grandchildren.

The recent ruling may set precedent for a more significant upcoming trial in the US, where the First Couple has filed a defamation lawsuit against right-wing influencer Candace Owens—known for echoing conspiracy theories about Brigitte Macron's gender. They contend that Owens ignored credible evidence in favor of spreading false claims.

Initially advised to dismiss such online discourse to avoid amplification, the Macrons opted for legal recourse as the scale of the harassment became unbearable. A longstanding conspiracy theory alleging Brigitte Macron's transgender status has circulated since Emmanuel Macron's election in 2017, which is set to be confronted in forthcoming legal actions.

The Macrons first crossed paths at a secondary school where Brigitte was a teacher, marrying in 2007. This advocacy against online abuse reflects broader issues concerning the safety and dignity of individuals in public life.