French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, have initiated a defamation lawsuit in the US against right-wing podcaster Candace Owens, amounting to 22 counts. Filed in Delaware Superior Court, the claim alleges a lengthy campaign of defamation against the couple.
The controversy intensified in March when Owens released a YouTube video titled “Is France’s First Lady a Man?” which revisited unfounded conspiracy theories about Brigitte’s gender. This assertion, promoted heavily on social media, was termed by Owens as “likely the biggest scandal in political history.” She has since produced a series of videos on this topic for her YouTube followers, while also allegedly selling merchandise related to the claims.
The lawsuit contends that Owens was instrumental in bringing these baseless allegations to a broader audience, inflicting substantial economic damage on the Macrons, including a loss of future business opportunities. The couple is seeking punitive damages, citing the emotional and reputational harm caused by the falsehoods.
In response to the lawsuit’s announcement, Owens shared a post on Instagram referencing the legal action and teasing further content. The Macrons previously faced similar accusations in France, where Brigitte also took legal action against two women spreading similar claims, resulting in a mixed outcome in court.
The Macrons assert that they have substantial evidence disproving Owens’ allegations, including details about Brigitte’s birth and the nature of their relationship. The lawsuit describes the damage inflicted by the claims as “tremendous,” affecting their daily lives and public perception.
Emmanuel Macron addressed the issue at a Paris event, emphasising the distress caused by persistent misinformation, which disrupts personal and private moments. The Elysee Palace has labelled the ongoing legal matters as a “private affair” and refrained from further commentary on the case.