Let’s just pause for a minute and imagine this: France’s First Lady going to court to prove she’s a woman. No, this isn’t some insane script for a Netflix show. It’s real life. Starring Brigitte Macron and Candace Owens, this drama is juicy, messy, and straight-up bonkers.
The Conspiracy Theory
The root of the feud lies in a conspiracy theory floating around the darker corners of the internet. The claim is that Brigitte Macron was “born a man,” that her identity is a facade, or worse, that she stole someone else’s life. These rumours aren’t new. Versions of them have circulated in French conspiracy circles for years. Things escalated when conservative commentator Candace Owens embraced the theory full throttle. Across podcasts, YouTube episodes, and social media, including her series “Becoming Brigitte”, Owens repeated allegations that Brigitte was once “Jean-Michel Trogneux” and had assumed a female identity. Owens even declared, “I would stake my entire professional reputation on the fact that Brigitte Macron is, in fact, a man.” She challenged Brigitte to release early-life photos or medical records, calling the absence of such proof suspicious. When the Macrons began sending legal warnings, Owens doubled down, mocking the idea that Brigitte didn’t owe her proof of identity: “So now, in the court of law, if I say no, you have to accept it as the truth? It’s basically ‘trust me, bro.’”
Legal Bullets Fly
By mid 2025, the Macrons had clearly had enough. They filed a 22-count defamation lawsuit in Delaware, calling Owens’ claims “outlandish, defamatory, far-fetched fictions.” The suit accused her of spreading false statements that Brigitte was born male, that Emmanuel Macron committed incest, and that Brigitte had stolen another person’s identity, all allegedly to drive clicks, merchandise sales, and notoriety. President Macron justified the lawsuit, saying, “This has become such a big issue in the United States that we had to respond.” Critics, however, have noted the delicate line between defamation and free speech, especially when conspiracy-laden lies are framed as commentary. The Macrons aren’t playing small. Their legal team says they intend to present photographic and scientific evidence, including expert testimony, photo archives, and possibly images of Brigitte pregnant or raising children, to definitively disprove the claims. One of Macron’s lawyers stated: “It is a process she will have to subject herself to in a very public way. She is firmly resolved to do what it takes to set the record straight.”
The lawsuit later ballooned to 250 pages, charging that Owens intensified her rhetoric, sold merchandise, and exploited the scandal for profit. Owens has since moved to dismiss the suit, accusing Macron of engaging in what she called “quintessential liberal tourism.”
Candace Strikes Back
Owens hasn’t stayed silent. Her responses have been as fiery as expected. She referred to Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron as “both misters”, adding, “Mr. Macron, both misters, in my world, I bank on people.” She called the lawsuit a ploy to silence her free speech. In one particularly eyebrow-raising moment, she even speculated that the Macrons might “fake kill” Brigitte to avoid discovery: “I think they’ll fake kill Brigitte first. They’ll be like, ‘Oh, Brigitte passed away from stress.’” She continued to mock the idea that Brigitte didn’t owe her proof, again deriding the notion of a “trust me” standard in court. Clearly, Owens isn’t one to back down. When attacked, she grabs the mic and fires right back.
Why Is This All So Crazy and Why Does It Matter?
You might be asking if this is just internet drama. Well, partly it is, but it also raises serious issues. First, transphobia disguised as investigation. Owens’ claims fit a pattern known as “transvestigation”, where conspiracy theorists target public figures by insisting, they are secretly transgender. The underlying message is that trans identity equals deception. Second, the line between free speech and defamation. The Macrons argue that Owens is spreading harmful lies that endanger their reputations. Owens insists she is engaging in harmless commentary. The next bizarre twist is France’s First Lady being asked, in a court of law, to prove her gender identity. It is unprecedented and, to many observers, demeaning. There is also the misinformation economy at play. The Macrons allege that Owens monetized these falsehoods, turning conspiracy into a marketing campaign. As one commentator put it: “Forcing Brigitte Macron into court to prove she is a woman shows how mad conspiracists have become.”
No Clear Winner Yet
As of now, the legal battle is ongoing. Owens is pushing for dismissal, and the Macrons are preparing evidence. Media and public opinion are split. Some see the Macrons as justified defenders of dignity, while others view them as suppressors of dissent. One thing, however, seems certain: we haven’t seen the end of Brigitte v. Candace. Will the courtroom unveil the truth, or will it become just another thread in the digital rumour haystack?
