A Paris court has convicted 10 individuals for cyberbullying Brigitte Macron, France’s first lady, by spreading false information online regarding her gender and sexuality, including unfounded claims that she was born male. One person received a six-month prison term, while eight others were given suspended sentences ranging from four to eight months. All 10 were mandated to participate in cyberbullying awareness programs.
The court highlighted the “particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious” nature of the comments, which propagated baseless allegations that Brigitte Macron was transgender and a pedophile. The court emphasized the harmful impact of the repeated dissemination of such claims.
The defendants, comprising eight men and two women aged between 41 and 65, were accused of making numerous false statements asserting that President Emmanuel Macron’s wife was actually male at birth, and drawing inappropriate comparisons between their 24-year age gap and pedophilia. Some of these posts garnered tens of thousands of views.
Brigitte Macron did not attend the trial held over two days in October. In a statement on TF1 national television, she expressed her motivation for initiating legal action as a means to combat harassment.
According to her lawyer, Jean Ennochi, the immediate implementation of cyberbullying awareness sessions and the imposition of social media usage bans for certain defendants are crucial steps to address the issue.
During the trial, Tiphaine Auzière, Brigitte Macron’s daughter, testified about the distress her mother has endured due to the escalating online harassment, affecting not only her but also the entire family, including Macron’s grandchildren.
Various penalties were handed down to the defendants, with one receiving a six-month prison sentence to be served at home, potentially under electronic monitoring. Another defendant, Delphine Jegousse, known as Amandine Roy, was given a six-month prison term for significantly contributing to spreading the false rumors through a lengthy video on her YouTube channel.
In a related development, Aurelien Poirson-Atlan, also known as Zoe Sagan on social media, received an eight-month prison sentence alongside a gallery owner. The defendants’ online access may be suspended for six months on platforms where the offensive content was posted.
All 10 individuals were collectively ordered to pay 10,000 euros in damages to Brigitte Macron for the emotional distress caused. The court stressed that the severity of the sentences was commensurate with the gravity of the comments made.
Some defendants argued during the trial that their remarks were meant as humor or satire, claiming they were unaware of the legal consequences. The case is part of a broader pattern of conspiracy theories falsely alleging Brigitte Macron’s gender identity, with the Macrons pursuing legal action against individuals spreading defamation.
Brigitte Macron, aged 72, has been married to Emmanuel Macron, aged 48, since 2007. Macron assumed office as France’s president in 2017 after a career that included meeting his future wife at the school where she taught while he was a student.