Ten sentenced of cyber-bullying directed at Brigitte Macron

A Paris court has found guilty ten people for carrying out the cyber-bullying of Brigitte Macron, the spouse of French President, Emmanuel Macron.

The accused individuals faced accusations of spreading fabrications regarding her sex and sexual orientation, in addition to posting hurtful comments about the pair's age disparity of 24 years.

The court delivered suspended prison sentences of a maximum of eight months to the defendants. The full ruling has still to be made public.

A circulating unfounded claim suggesting that Brigitte Macron is a transgender woman has spread widely since her husband's initial election in 2017.

This recent ruling in France comes as the Macrons initiating a legal action for defamation in the United States against right-wing influencer Candace Owens, who has repeatedly shared analogous false narratives about the French president's wife's identity.

Their lawsuit alleges that Owens disregarded substantial counter-evidence that refuted her assertions in favour of platforming known conspiracy theorists.

Owens has often echoed these allegations on her podcast and online platforms, 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 current spouse when she taught at his lycée.

The couple entered into matrimony in 2007, when the future French president was 29 and she was 54.