A court in Paris is set to deliver its verdict on Monday in a significant cyberbullying trial. Ten individuals stand accused of orchestrating a malicious online campaign against Brigitte Macron, the First Lady of France. The case centres on the spread of falsehoods regarding her gender and sexuality, which her family says caused severe distress.
The Core Accusations and Defendants
The defendants, comprising eight men and two women aged between 41 and 60, are charged with posting numerous defamatory comments. These posts falsely alleged that Brigitte Macron was born male and insinuated a link between the couple's 24-year age gap and pedophilia. Some of this harmful content was viewed tens of thousands of times online.
Among the accused, Delphine Jegousse, 51, known as Amandine Roy, is considered a central figure. She allegedly played a major role by releasing a four-hour video on her YouTube channel in 2021 that propagated the rumours. Another defendant, Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, 41 (known online as Zoé Sagan), had his X account suspended in 2024 after his name surfaced in multiple judicial probes. The group also includes an elected official, a teacher, and a computer scientist.
Family Impact and Courtroom Testimony
Brigitte Macron did not attend the two-day trial held in October. However, her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, provided powerful testimony. She described the profound "deterioration" of her mother's life and health since the online harassment intensified. "She cannot ignore the horrible things said about her," Auzière told the court, emphasising that the impact extended to the entire family, including President Macron's grandchildren.
During the proceedings, several defendants argued that their comments were meant as humour or satire and expressed confusion over the prosecution. Despite these claims, they face serious legal consequences, with potential sentences of up to two years in prison if convicted.
Background and Wider Legal Actions
This trial is the culmination of years of persistent conspiracy theories. These baseless claims falsely state that Brigitte Macron was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is actually the name of her brother. In a related move to combat defamation, the Macrons have also filed a separate lawsuit in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens.
The Macron's relationship has been in the public eye since its beginning. They met when Emmanuel Macron was a 15-year-old student and Brigitte was his teacher at a high school in Amiens. At the time, she was Brigitte Auzière, a married mother of three. The couple eventually married in 2007, and Emmanuel Macron, now 48, has served as France's President since 2017.
