Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron File U.S. Defamation Lawsuit Against Candace Owens Over Gender Identity Claims
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, have filed a landmark defamation lawsuit in the United States against American right-wing commentator Candace Owens, accusing her of spreading false and malicious claims about the French First Lady’s gender identity and personal history.
The 218-page complaint, filed Wednesday in Delaware Superior Court, alleges that Owens knowingly published and amplified a series of “verifiably false, offensive, and damaging allegations”, including claims that Brigitte Macron is transgender, stole another woman’s identity, and is in an incestuous relationship with her husband.
The lawsuit — an exceedingly rare move for a sitting head of state — seeks unspecified punitive damages and a jury trial, citing repeated defamation and emotional harm to the Macron family.
“A Campaign Designed to Harass and Harm”
In a joint statement released by their legal team, the Macrons said:
“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.”
The couple added that they hope the legal action will “set the record straight and end this campaign of defamation once and for all.”
At the center of the lawsuit is Owens’s eight-part YouTube and podcast series titled Becoming Brigitte, which has circulated widely on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube, where Owens commands a multi-million follower audience.
The Macrons claim the series disseminated “outrageous fabrications,” including conspiracies that challenge the legitimacy of their marriage and personal identities.
Owens Dismisses Lawsuit as a PR Move
On her podcast released the same day the lawsuit was filed, Owens rejected the claims, calling the suit “littered with factual inaccuracies” and labeling it a “desperate public relations stunt.” She insisted she was unaware a lawsuit was imminent, though lawyers for both parties have reportedly been in communication since January.
A spokesperson for Owens claimed the case is an attempt to “bully” the commentator after Brigitte Macron declined repeated interview requests from Owens’s team.
An Unusual Move in International Politics
Legal experts and media observers note that it is highly unusual for world leaders or their spouses to bring defamation lawsuits, especially in U.S. courts, where the legal bar for public figures is exceptionally high.
Under American law, public figures must prove “actual malice” — meaning the statements were knowingly false or made with reckless disregard for the truth.
The case draws parallels to recent defamation claims filed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who in recent months has pursued lawsuits against media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and ABC, the latter ending in a reported $15 million settlement over a disputed on-air remark about Trump’s civil liability in a sexual assault case.
However, unlike Trump’s often politically charged litigation, the Macrons’ case is rooted in deeply personal and reputational damage, raising broader questions about online disinformation, transphobia, and the spread of conspiracy theories targeting public figures and their families.
If the case proceeds to trial, it could set a precedent in how international figures combat misinformation in the U.S. media landscape — especially as the digital echo chamber increasingly blurs national boundaries and legal jurisdictions.
