Prominent right-wing figure Candace Owens is at the center of a defamation lawsuit filed by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron. Owens claims that Brigitte Macron’s biological sex is male. This accusation became the focus of an intense legal showdown. The couple’s response has been to try and bring scientific proof into court to rebut these claims. This case highlights the intersection of social media influence and political discourse, reflecting the larger tensions surrounding misinformation in today’s digital landscape.
Owens has developed a powerful digital operation, particularly on YouTube. Today, she counts more than 5 million YouTube subscribers, 6 million Instagram followers, and 7 million X, formerly Twitter, supporters. Her combative style and conservative activism opposed this titanic culture-war shift in U.S. politics. This position puts her squarely in line with the Republican anti-REI movement.
The firestorm began when Owens alleged that Brigitte Macron, France’s First Lady, was assigned male at birth. He claimed that she used to be known as Jean-Michel Trogneux. These accusations initially came to light in 2021 with the release of this YouTube video by Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey. Owens has repeatedly been challenged over her claims, including presenting Owens with credible evidence proving her statements false, and Owens still will not issue a correction.
Legal Proceedings and Allegations
The lawsuit, filed in Delaware’s Superior Court, encompasses a comprehensive 218-page complaint resulting in a jury trial and punitive damages. The Macrons argue that Owens’ baseless charges have done a lot of economic damage. Especially important, they highlight lost business opportunities and damage to their brand/reputation as top impacts. Owens’ allegations were explosive when we first reported them last March. These allegations, despite being untrue, have damaged their personal and professional reputations.
Tom Clare, the Macrons’ attorney, has a lot of work ahead of him but a clear plan. He hopes to introduce “scientific” proof in a courtroom to establish that Brigitte Macron has been feminine since delivery. Clare explained that paperwork proving this allegation will be entered as proof during the trial.
“It is incredibly upsetting to think that you have to go and subject yourself to put this type of proof forward,” – Tom Clare
The court proceedings will include photographs of Brigitte Macron’s pregnancy, further supporting their position against Owens’ claims. Clare reiterated how necessary this issue is to getting their names back and correcting the misleading information that has been put out all these years.
Candace Owens’ Response
In reaction to the lawsuit and the pushback from the Macron couple, Owens has doubled down on her claims. To raise awareness, she’s released an eight-part YouTube podcast series entitled “Becoming Brigitte.” In it, she fiercely defends her convictions about the nature of Brigitte Macron’s character. Even after calls for her to withdraw her libelous remarks, Owens has persisted in advancing her assertions.
“[I] would stake [my] entire professional reputation on the fact that Brigitte Macron is in fact a man,” – Candace Owens
Critics of Owens argue her speech and display of white supremacy is illustrative of a deeper trend permeating right-wing media. They want to know why misinformation gets to spread unchecked and unpunished. Tony Burke, a vocal critic, noted Owens’ history of controversial statements, linking her rhetoric to a pattern of inciting discord.
“From downplaying the impact of the Holocaust with comments about [Nazi physician Josef] Mengele through to claims that Muslims started slavery, Candace Owens has the capacity to incite discord in almost every direction,” – Tony Burke
Impact on Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron
The ramifications of Owens’ statements extend beyond mere allegations. They have reportedly caused significant harm to the Macrons’ public image and personal lives. The couple admits that they have put up with harassment and other intense examination. They blame this pain directly on the fraudulent claims being peddled by Owens.
Clare shone a spotlight on Brigitte Macron’s ability to go through and figure out the processes to clear the record. He dealt with the fact that this state of affairs should be made public and is inherently painful. She is unapologetic in her resolve to protect her identity.
“If that unpleasantness and that discomfort that she has of opening herself up in that way is what it takes to set a record straight and stop this, she’s 100 per cent ready to meet that burden,” – Tom Clare
Though the case continues to move forward, it raises some important questions. We’re not purporting to answer questions about the accountability of public representatives in today’s complicated social media environments. The result could establish the legal approach for future defamation claims based on allegations made in the online world.
