France trial opens for 10 accused of online harassment of Brigitte Macron

In a Paris court, ten people have been charged with harassment of French First Lady Brigitte Macron on the grounds of unsupported gender claims.

Eight men and two women, between the ages of 41 and 60, are accused of cyber-harassment after allegedly targeting the first lady with claims she is a transgender woman who was born a man and refering to her 24-year age gap as “paedophilia” against French President Emmanuel Macron.

The Macrons filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States at the end of July despite not being present when the two-day proceedings began on Monday.

The defendants, whose posts quickly gained popularity online and garnered tens of thousands of views, had “caused a decline” in the first lady’s “physical and mental health,” according to the chief judge.

Three defendants were represented by their attorneys on Monday in court by seven of them.

After releasing a four-hour video on her YouTube channel in 2021, Delphine Jegousse, 51, aka Amandine Roy, is thought to have played a significant role in dispelling the gender rumor. She describes herself as a medium and author.

Aurelien Poirson-Atlan, 41, who is frequently associated with conspiracy theory circles and who saw his X account suspended last year, is also a defendant.

A computer scientist, a teacher, and an elected official are among the others.

Conspiracy theories have long baffled the Macrons, who claim Jean-Michel Trogneux was the woman who allegedly adopted the name Brigitte as a transgender woman, before the couple’s 72-year marriage.

The brother of Brigitte is Jean-Michel Trogneux. A Paris court sentenced Jegousse and another woman to fines and damages for spreading the accusations, and the pair successfully brought a defamation lawsuit.

In July, a Paris appeals court overturned the decision. Since then, Brigitte and her brother have filed an appeal with France’s highest court.

Far-right and conspiracy theorist circles in France and the United States, where transgender rights have become a hot topic in cultural wars, have bolstered these claims.

If Candace Owens, the couple’s attorney, continues to claim that Brigitte is a man, they will be suing him for “substantial” damages in the US. Her YouTube channel has about 4.5 million subscribers.