French appeals court dismisses rumors about First Lady\’s gender
French Appeals Court Clears Two Women Accused of Libel Against Brigitte Macron
In a decision that could have far-reaching implications for defamation cases in France, the Paris Appeals Court has overturned lower‑court convictions against two women who spread false claims about the gender of France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron.
Background of the Libel Claims
- In December 2021, Amandine Roy, a self‑identified spiritual medium, interviewed Natacha Rey, an independent journalist, on their YouTube channel for four hours.
- Rey alleged that Brigitte Macron had once been a man named “Jean‑Michel Trogneux” who underwent a gender transition before marrying President Emmanuel Macron.
- Both women also claimed that Brigitte had undergone “surgery” and revealed personal information about her brother, Jean‑Michel Trogneux.
- The story went viral, gaining traction among conspiracy theorists in the United States.
Initial Court Decision
In September 2022, a lower court ordered the two women to pay 8,000 € in damages to Brigitte Macron and 5,000 € (≈ $5,500) to her brother. The court also found them guilty of a false claim that Brigitte had “groomed a minor.”
Appeals Court Ruling
On Thursday, the Paris Appeals Court dismissed the convictions, citing that the defendants had acted in “good faith” when making their claims. The court ruled that the two women would no longer have to pay the damages.
For reasons that the court did not expound upon, the decision could signal that defamation cases involving public figures could be judged on a more favorable legal standard for those who spread misinformation in good faith.
Separate Harassment Case
In a parallel action, four men—including publicist Aurelien Poirson‑Atlan, known online as “Zoe Sagan”—are expected to appear in October 2023 in Paris over allegations of harassment of Brigitte Macron.
Context of Gender Disinformation
Brigitte Macron, now 72 years old, has also endured attacks focused on the 24‑year age gap between her and President Emmanuel Macron. The gender‑disinformation narrative mirrors similar online conspiracies that have targeted former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice‑President Kamala Harris, and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
