French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte are pushing forward with a defamation lawsuit against American influencer Candace Owens after she claimed that Mrs Macron was born male. The case, set to unfold in a United States court, will see the couple present both photographic and scientific evidence to counter the allegations.
How will Macron prove Brigitte’s gender in court?
According to their lawyer Tom Clare, the Macrons are prepared to share extensive documentation, including photos of Brigitte pregnant and raising her children. Clare explained that expert testimony of a scientific nature will also be presented, though he did not specify the exact details.
“It is incredibly upsetting to think that you have to go and subject yourself to put this type of proof forward. It is a process that she will have to undergo very publicly. But she is willing to do it. She is firmly resolved to set the record straight,” Clare said. He added that while President Macron has remained composed in his public duties, the personal nature of the attack has undeniably taken a toll on the family.
Owens’ legal team has already filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, but she continues to stand by her remarks.
When did these claims first surface?
Allegations about Brigitte Macron’s gender first circulated in 2021 during a defamation case involving two bloggers. The Macrons initially won that case, but the ruling was later overturned on appeal in 2025 on freedom of expression grounds, not because the claims were upheld as true.
Emmanuel Macron addressed the controversy in Paris Match earlier this year, saying, “This is about defending my honour. These claims are absurd. The person spreading them knew the information was false and aimed to cause harm, driven by an ideology and linked to far-right figures.”
The case has reignited global debate, drawing attention not only to the unusual nature of the evidence being prepared but also to the broader issue of online disinformation and the personal toll it can take.
By Risper Akinyi