French President Macron Sues Candace Owens for Defamation Over Brigitte Macron Gender Claims

French President Emmanuel Macron has filed a defamation lawsuit against American right-wing commentator Candace Owens, following her persistent and widely circulated claims that his wife, Brigitte Macron, is secretly a man.

The lawsuit, filed in Delaware, accuses Owens of launching what the Macrons describe as “a campaign of global humiliation” with the aim of generating profit and publicity for herself and her businesses. The complaint includes 22 separate counts of defamation, all tied to Owens’ public remarks and online content targeting the French First Lady.

According to the legal filing, the controversy began in March 2025 when Owens released a video titled “Is France’s First Lady a Man?” She followed it with a series of similar videos and an eight-part podcast titled “Becoming Brigitte.” The Macrons allege that Owens even capitalized on the claims by selling related merchandise.

Despite being presented with what the Macrons call “credible, verifiable evidence” refuting her statements—including public records, documentation, and direct outreach—Owens allegedly refused to retract any of her claims. Instead, she reportedly mocked the couple and escalated her accusations.

“Because Ms. Owens systematically reaffirmed these falsehoods in response to each of our attorneys’ repeated requests for a retraction, we ultimately concluded that referring the matter to a court of law was the only remaining avenue,” the Macrons said in an official statement. “Ms Owens’ campaign of defamation was plainly designed to harass and cause pain to us and our families and to garner attention and notoriety. We gave her every opportunity to back away from these claims, but she refused. It is our earnest hope that this lawsuit will set the record straight and end this campaign of defamation once and for all.”

Among the more outrageous allegations, Owens has claimed that Brigitte Macron was born male, assumed a false identity, and underwent a gender transition. She also claimed that the couple are blood relatives engaged in incest and accused them of participating in a secret CIA mind-control program. The suit labels these assertions as “outlandish, defamatory, and far-fetched fictions.”

The Macrons argue that Owens’ continued publication of these stories has caused significant reputational and emotional damage. “The falsehoods have taken a toll on the Macrons, who are now subjected to a campaign of global humiliation, turning their lives into fodder for profit-driven lies,” the lawsuit states, adding that the couple have incurred substantial legal costs in efforts to correct the public narrative.

“Every time the Macrons leave their home, they do so knowing that countless people have heard, and many believe, these vile fabrications. It is invasive, dehumanizing, and deeply unjust,” the complaint continues.

Represented by high-profile defamation law firm Clare Locke—best known for securing Dominion Voting Systems’ $787 million settlement against Fox News—the Macrons are prepared to appear in court in the U.S. They say they’ve already sent Owens three formal retraction demands, all of which were ignored or used to fuel further attacks.