French First Lady Brigitte Macron and President Emmanuel Macron are set to deliver scientific proof in court that Brigitte is a cisgender female.
Their lawyer confirmed the action as part of the couple’s defamation case against U.S. far-right commentator Candace Owens, who has incessantly shared unsubstantiated claims challenging the French first lady’s gender.
The lawsuit, brought in July 2025 in Delaware Superior Court, alleges Owens promoted and tweeted “a series of verifiably false and catastrophic lies” about the Macrons. Since March 2024, Owens has falsely said Brigitte Macron was born a man, assumed someone else’s identity, transitioned, and concealed it all with President Macron. The complaint includes other outlandish allegations, such as incest, forgery, and participation in mind-control programs. The Macrons’ lawyers called these “outlandish, defamatory, and far-fetched fictions” that Owens knew were untrue when she published them.
Tom Clare, the couple’s lawyer, said in an interview on the BBC’s Fame Under Fire podcast that expert witness testimony will be offered in court, such as scientific evidence, to establish Brigitte Macron’s gender identity. He emphasized that the first lady is willing to suffer the discomfort of subjecting herself to such scrutiny in a very public arena. “She is resolutely determined to do whatever it takes to set the record straight,” Clare said. “If that unpleasantness and discomfort of exposing herself in that manner is what it takes to put a stop to this, she’s 100 percent willing to bear that burden.”
Owens, for her part, has doubled down, publicly declaring that Brigitte Macron “is definitely a man” and calling the lawsuit a publicity stunt. In a court filing, her attorneys characterized the suit as “politically motivated,” presenting it as an effort to silence First Amendment-protected commentary. Owens asked the court to dismiss the case.
The gender controversy surrounding Brigitte Macron is long-standing. Conspiracy theories surrounding her gender started doing the rounds in 2021 following a YouTube video by French bloggers Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey that questioned whether she was transgender. The Macrons took the bloggers to court in 2024 for defamation and initially prevailed, but the decision was overturned in appeal this year on grounds of freedom of expression and not factual truth. The Macrons are contesting that ruling.
Although there has been no court date scheduled in the Owens case, Macrons’ lawyers look to be intent on facing the unfounded allegations head-on. For Brigitte, that involves going through a process she knows will be intrusive but which she wants to fulfill in order to clear her name.
The case illustrates the harmful effect of conspiracy theories against public figures, particularly women in authority who are frequently subjected to gendered attacks. It also reflects the increasing tension between free speech protection in America and the reputation rights of global personalities defamed online.
With the trial looming, everyone is waiting to see if the Macrons can finally lay the persistent rumors to rest. For Brigitte, it’s not simply about being proved right in open court—it’s about claiming back her dignity after years of baseless speculation.
Leo Cruz brings sharp insights into the world of politics, offering balanced reporting and analysis on the latest policies, elections, and global political events. With years of experience covering campaigns and interviewing world leaders, Leo ensures readers are always informed and engaged.
