Ten Defendants Face Trial for Cyberbullying France’s First Lady with Transphobic Attacks

A two-day Paris trial has opened for ten defendants accused of sexist cyberbullying against France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron.

The accusations focus on false claims that she was “assigned male at birth” and broader attacks on her gender and sexuality.

Arab News

The case stems from a complaint filed in August 2024 and investigations leading to arrests in early 2025.

Brigitte Macron has not attended the trial, but her daughter Tiphaine Auzière testified that persistent disinformation harmed her mother’s health and forced her to be constantly cautious about her image.

Media coverage links the rumor’s renewed spread to a 2021 YouTube video and notes that the allegations have circulated since 2017.

Prosecutors and media describe the proceedings as a key test in combating coordinated online harassment and disinformation targeting a high-profile public figure.

Penalties and charges reported by outlets vary widely.

Several Western mainstream and local Western sources note potential maximum prison terms of two years for those convicted.

South China Morning Post

The BBC says prosecutors are seeking suspended sentences of three to twelve months and fines up to €8,000.

In contrast, Al-Jazeera Net reports possible sentences of up to five years and fines up to €75,000 tied to charges that include incitement to hatred based on gender identity.

Khaleej Times and The Press Democrat also reference a two-year maximum, underscoring a lack of uniformity in how potential punishments are framed across coverage.

Profiles of the accused and defense strategies show a mix of public figures and self-styled commentators.

“The article reports on legal proceedings concerning harassment and defamation claims against Brigitte Macron, France’s first lady”

South China Morning Post

Reports identify Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, who told followers that Brigitte Macron is transgender and now claims he is the one being harassed.

Some defendants argue their posts were satire or free speech.

Others include a spiritual medium who promoted an interview advancing the conspiracy theory and defendants who described their online activity as a response to a “media deep state.”

Defense teams sought to delay or dismiss the case, and one lawyer said a client was part of a larger group that merely shared a widely known but hurtful rumor.

Multiple outlets trace the rumor’s surge to a 2021 YouTube video and emphasize international amplification, especially in U.S. right-wing ecosystems.

Ecostylia Magazine calls it a “transphobic hoax” that spread internationally, particularly among U.S. pro-Trump groups.

Messenger Newspapers

The Star and Evrim Ağacı note that U.S. influencer Candace Owens amplified the claims and is facing a defamation suit from the Macrons.

Coverage also highlights prior slander convictions that were later overturned on appeal and ongoing appeals to France’s highest court.

Several reports say the Macrons have filed or are preparing defamation actions in the United States.

Accounts converge on the personal toll of the situation.

“French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife have filed a defamation lawsuit against conservative influencer Candace Owens, who has made similar claims about them and faced visa denials in New Zealand and Australia”

Messenger Newspapers

Auzière says the rumors hurt her mother’s health and forced hyper-vigilance.

Khaleej Times

Multiple outlets report taunting of grandchildren at school and a broader erosion of public discourse.

Some reports highlight allegations tying the couple’s age gap to inappropriate behavior, which a defendant framed as satire.

Others note plans to present scientific evidence to refute these claims.

Coverage characterizes the trial as a crucial moment in confronting gender-based, transphobic harassment of a public figure and the spread of conspiracy theories online.