Macrons Sue Candace Owens in Tennessee Over Transgender Conspiracy Theory
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte have filed a federal defamation lawsuit in Tennessee against American podcaster Candace Owens over a bizarre transphobic conspiracy theory.
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, have filed a new defamation lawsuit in the United States against American far-right media personality and podcaster Candace Owens. The legal action targets Owens over the continuous promotion of a baseless conspiracy theory alleging that France's first lady was born a man, as well as the use of a mocking puppet dubbed 'Brigitte's doll' to publicly ridicule her.
The presidential couple's legal team filed the complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, following a previous dismissal in Delaware where a judge ruled personal jurisdiction over Owens was lacking. The lawsuit spans over 400 pages, details roughly 88 instances of alleged defamation, and points to an eight-part podcast series titled Becoming Brigitte alongside numerous posts on the X platform.
The complaint alleges that Owens has subjected the couple to a relentless global humiliation campaign driven by financial gain. The lawsuit highlights the commercialization of merchandise mocking the first lady, particularly pointing to a grotesque, alien-like figure used in video broadcasts to caricature her physical appearance and gender identity.
Legal representatives for the Macrons emphasize that the lawsuit seeks actual, statutory, and punitive damages, alongside a permanent injunction barring Owens from republishing defamatory statements. The filing explicitly notes that while there is nothing shameful about being transgender or male, Owens' claims constitute defamation by accusing the couple of orchestrating a decades-long state deception.
In response to inquiries from the British media, Owens issued a brief and sarcastic statement, asserting that her satirical doll had never sought the spotlight. Brigitte Macron has frequently been the target of transphobic disinformation campaigns, mirroring similar attacks directed at other prominent international figures such as former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
