Brigitte Macron Appeals to France’s Highest Court Over Viral Gender Rumours Case

France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron, has escalated her defamation case to the country’s highest court after a Paris appeals court overturned convictions against two women who falsely claimed she was born male, her lawyer confirmed on Monday.

The case centers on a baseless conspiracy theory that has circulated online for years, alleging that the 72-year-old First Lady was born as a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux — who is, in fact, her real-life brother.

In December 2021, Macron filed a libel complaint after a viral YouTube video featured Amandine Roy, a self-proclaimed spiritual medium, interviewing Natacha Rey, who described herself as an “independent journalist.” In the four-hour video, Rey accused Macron of participating in a “state lie” and claimed that her identity was part of a broader political “scam.”

The outlandish claim gained traction among conspiracy theorists both in France and abroad, echoing tactics used in disinformation campaigns that target public figures through gender-based smears.

Last September, a lower court found both women guilty of defamation and ordered them to pay €8,000 in damages to Brigitte Macron and €5,000 to her brother.

However, a Paris appeals court last week overturned those convictions — prompting the First Lady to take the matter to the Court of Cassation, France’s highest judicial authority.

“This is about upholding truth and the dignity of individuals subjected to false and deeply damaging attacks,” her lawyer, Jean Ennochi, told AFP.

Ennochi added that Jean-Michel Trogneux has also filed an appeal with the court in a parallel bid to reinstate the original ruling.

Brigitte Macron, a former teacher, has long been subjected to public scrutiny — not only due to her prominent role as First Lady but also because of the 24-year age gap between her and President Emmanuel Macron, which has often drawn sensationalist media attention.