French Court Probes Rumors on Brigitte Macron’s Identity

(MENAFN) A French tribunal has begun hearings involving ten individuals accused of circulating internet falsehoods suggesting that President Emmanuel Macron’s spouse, Brigitte, was born male—an allegation that rekindles a conspiracy theory repeatedly dismissed by France’s First Lady.

The two-day legal proceedings in Paris—where the accused face cyberharassment charges—were attended by Macron’s daughter from her first marriage, Tiphaine Auzières, who appeared in her mother’s place to provide testimony, according to a media outlet’s report released on Tuesday.

The defendants, whose backgrounds vary from a computer specialist to a disabled man “who spends a lot of time on Twitter,” were alleged to have published online remarks ridiculing Macron’s supposed gender, asserting that she was born under her brother’s identity, and promoting unfounded claims of a media cover-up.

In their defense, they invoked the right to free speech, maintaining that their posts were meant as satire or legitimate contributions to public discourse.

Auzières was the sole witness to speak before the court, stating that her mother could not simply disregard the relentless gossip, which had made it “impossible” for her to live an ordinary life.

She added that Brigitte Macron had grown increasingly wary about her appearances in public.

The speculations concerning Brigitte Macron first emerged in 2021 and were propagated by two French women—an independent reporter and a self-described spiritual medium.

Their Facebook updates and a YouTube discussion gained online momentum, fueling the hashtag #JeanMichelTrogneux, a name conspiracy supporters falsely alleged was Macron’s true identity.

Jean-Michel Trogneux, however, is actually her brother. In court, Auzières mentioned that she had seen her uncle recently and that he was “doing very well.”

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