French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, have filed a defamation lawsuit against American media personality Candace Owens.
The legal action, which includes 22 charges, was filed after Owens repeatedly claimed in public videos that Brigitte Macron is a man.
The case has shocked many across the globe due to the boldness of the accusations and the international profile of the individuals involved.
According to the Macrons, Owens’ claims have caused them deep personal and professional harm.
The complaint accuses Owens of launching what they described as a “campaign of global humiliation”, allegedly to boost her brand and profit from the controversy.
The situation, they say, has gone beyond mere gossip and now affects their everyday lives.
In March 2025, Owens published a video titled “Is France’s First Lady a Man?” and followed it with more content, including merchandise and an eight-part podcast titled Becoming Brigitte.
Despite receiving “credible, verifiable evidence disproving her claims,” the Macrons say Owens refused to retract her statements.
The lawsuit was filed in Delaware, USA, with the couple being represented by Clare Locke LLP, a high-profile law firm known for winning defamation cases.
The Macrons also confirmed their willingness to appear in court if needed.
“Because Ms Owens systematically reaffirmed these falsehoods in response to each of our attorneys’ repeated requests for a retraction,” the couple stated, “we ultimately concluded that referring the matter to a court of law was the only remaining avenue.”
The Macrons also claim that Owens mocked their efforts to clear their name, using their responses as new material to further fuel her followers and drive traffic to her platforms.
“These outlandish, defamatory, and far-fetched fictions included that Mrs Macron was born a man, stole another person’s identity, and transitioned to become Brigitte,” they said.
“Mrs Macron and President Macron are blood relatives committing incest… and are part of a CIA mind-control program.”
According to them, the false claims have resulted in public ridicule, online harassment, and loss of business opportunities.
They added that legal fees and attempts to correct the misinformation have cost them significantly.
“Every time the Macrons leave their home,” the suit says, “they do so knowing that countless people have heard, and many believe, these vile fabrications. It is invasive, dehumanizing, and deeply unjust.”
According to The Financial Times, Owens was served three retraction demands, but rather than back down, she reportedly escalated the situation by mocking the couple and releasing more content.
In a press release, Clare Locke said the defamation suit became necessary after Owens allegedly ignored all warnings.
“The falsehoods have taken a toll on the Macrons,” the statement read. “They have turned their lives into fodder for profit-driven lies.”
