A Paris court on Monday found 10 people guilty of cyberbullying France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron, for spreading false and degrading claims online that she was born a man.
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The defendants—eight men and two women aged between 41 and 65—were convicted of online harassment after posting messages and images alleging that Ms. Macron was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, who is in fact her older brother.
The court described the comments as “particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious,” noting that the repeated online publications had cumulative and harmful effects. Some of the posts were viewed tens of thousands of times and also included insinuations linking the 24-year age gap between Brigitte Macron and President Emmanuel Macron to pedophilia.
Sentences varied among the defendants. One individual received a six-month prison sentence, while others were handed suspended sentences ranging from two to eight months. All 10 defendants were ordered to attend mandatory cyberbullying awareness training, fined €600 each, and collectively required to pay €10,000 (about $12,000) in compensation to Ms. Macron. Five of those convicted were also banned from using the social media platform X for six months.
Three of the defendants were tried in absentia. Of those who appeared in court, most denied wrongdoing, claiming their posts were intended as humor, satire, or legitimate debate. Only one defendant—a teacher who ultimately did not receive a prison sentence—apologized during the trial.
Among the convicted was Delphine Jegousse, 51, also known as Amandine Roy, a self-described medium and author, who played a significant role in spreading the rumor through a four-hour YouTube video released in 2021. She received a six-month prison sentence. Another defendant, Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, 41, known online as Zoé Sagan, whose X account was suspended in 2024 amid multiple judicial investigations, was sentenced to eight months in prison, along with a gallery owner.
One defendant who received a six-month prison sentence—a property asset manager—may serve the term at home under French law, potentially with an ankle monitor or other judicial restrictions.
Brigitte Macron did not attend the two-day trial held in October. Speaking on French television channel TF1 on Sunday, she said she initiated legal action to “set an example” in the fight against online harassment. Her lawyer, Jean Ennochi, said the court’s decision underscored the importance of immediate cyberbullying awareness training and temporary bans from social media platforms for some offenders.
Ms. Macron’s daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified during the trial, describing what she called the deterioration of her mother’s life as the online abuse intensified. She told the court that the harassment had affected the entire family, including President Macron’s grandchildren.
The case has been widely viewed as emblematic of a toxic online culture fueled by conspiracy theories, mistrust of mainstream media, and resentment toward public figures. President Macron has cited the case in support of broader efforts to combat misinformation, including proposals to certify professional news organizations.
The convictions follow years of recurring conspiracy theories falsely alleging that Brigitte Macron was born male. The Macrons have also filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens over similar claims.
President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron have been married since 2007. They first met at a high school where he was a student and she was a teacher. At the time, she was known as Brigitte Auzière and was a married mother of three.
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