Ten found guilty of digital abuse against Brigitte Macron

A Paris court has convicted ten people for carrying out the online harassment of Brigitte Macron, the partner of France's leader, Emmanuel Macron.

The those on trial faced charges of spreading false claims regarding her sex and sexual orientation, in addition to posting malicious remarks about the husband and wife's significant age difference.

The court issued suspended prison sentences of a maximum of eight months to the convicted individuals. The detailed judgment has not yet been published.

A longstanding conspiracy theory alleging that Brigitte Macron is a trans woman has been in circulation since her husband's first electoral victory in 2017.

This recent ruling in France is concurrent with the Macrons initiating a defamation lawsuit in the US against political commentator Candace Owens, who has repeatedly shared comparable unfounded claims about the Brigitte Macron's gender.

Their lawsuit alleges that Owens disregarded substantial counter-evidence contradicting her allegations choosing instead to give a platform to established defamers.

Owens has frequently reiterated these assertions on her show and social media channels, and in March 2024 stated that she would bet her whole career on her belief that Mrs. Macron is in fact a man.

Brigitte Macron originally became acquainted with her now-husband when she taught at his lycée.

The couple married in 2007, when the man who would become president was 29 and she was in her mid-50s.