In a landmark ruling that sends a clear message about the limits of online speech, a Paris court on Monday convicted ten people for cyberbullying France's First Lady Brigitte Macron over a bizarre and completely false conspiracy theory claiming she was born male. The verdicts, which ranged from mandatory awareness training to prison sentences, mark one of the first major legal reckonings for those who weaponized social media to spread malicious disinformation about a public figure.
The defendants — eight men and two women aged between 41 and 65 — had posted what the court described as "particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious" content falsely claiming that the 71-year-old former teacher was actually born Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is in fact the name of her brother. The conspiracy theory, which gained traction in far-right circles and on social media platforms, also included baseless accusations linking the 24-year age gap between Brigitte and President Emmanuel Macron to pedophilia.
Among those convicted was Delphine Jegousse, a 51-year-old self-described medium who goes by the name Amandine Roy online. She received a six-month sentence for releasing a four-hour YouTube video in 2021 that helped spread the rumors to tens of thousands of viewers. Another defendant, 41-year-old Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, known as Zoé Sagan on social media, received an eight-month suspended sentence — his X account had already been suspended in 2024 after appearing in judicial investigations.
Eight of the defendants received suspended prison sentences ranging from four to eight months, while a ninth man was sentenced to six months in prison due to his absence from the hearing. Several defendants claimed during the trial that their posts were meant as humor or satire, a defense the court clearly rejected. One defendant, gallery owner Bertrand Scholler, publicly criticized the verdict and announced his intention to appeal, calling it a restriction on freedom of expression.
Brigitte Macron herself did not appear at the trial hearings in October, but her presence loomed large over the proceedings. In statements to investigators, she revealed that the transgender conspiracy theory had "strongly affected" both her and her loved ones. Her daughter Tiphaine Auzière testified about the "deterioration" of her mother's life, describing how the harassment had impacted the entire family, including Macron's grandchildren who encountered the vile claims online.
"The most important things are the prevention courses and the suspension of some of the accounts" of the perpetrators, said Jean Ennochi, Brigitte Macron's lawyer, after the verdict was delivered. The First Lady had previously stated that she pursued the legal action to "set an example" against online harassment, hoping the case would deter others from similar behavior.
The Paris ruling comes as the Macrons continue their legal battle against online disinformation on multiple fronts. The couple has also filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States against right-wing podcaster Candace Owens, who amplified the same false claims to her millions of followers. As social media continues to serve as a breeding ground for conspiracy theories targeting public figures, Monday's verdict offers a rare instance of accountability — and a warning that the keyboard warriors hiding behind anonymous accounts may not remain anonymous forever.
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