French President Takes Legal Action Against Candace Owens for Alleging His Wife is Transgender
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, have filed a 22-count defamation lawsuit in the United States against right-wing podcaster Candace Owens. The lawsuit, filed in Delaware Superior Court, alleges that Owens has conducted a year-long campaign of defamation against the Macrons. This was confirmed by Tom Clare, the Macrons' lawyer.
In March, Candace Owens posted a YouTube video titled “Is France’s First Lady a Man?” reviving a conspiracy theory. Owens has since created multiple videos about Brigitte Macron for her 4.5 million YouTube subscribers, including a series called “Becoming Brigitte.” The lawsuit also claims that Owens has sold merchandise promoting the false claim.
The Macrons' attorney, Tom Clare, stated that they had requested Owens to stop making the claim for a year before resorting to legal action. The lawsuit seeks punitive damages and alleges significant economic losses, including missed business opportunities, due to Owens' actions.
Owens posted on Instagram referencing the lawsuit, stating, “I will be coming for this wig today. Stay tuned.” She later dismissed the lawsuit as a “public relations strategy” in a YouTube video. CNN has reached out to Owens for comment.
In a separate legal case, Brigitte Macron sued two French women for spreading similar claims in 2022. After initially winning the case, the women won an appeal this year, leading to the lawsuit proceeding to a higher court. The Macrons' complaint provides evidence disproving the false claims made by Owens and emphasizes the damage caused by the defamation.
The Macrons are seeking punitive damages against Owens and her business entities for 22 counts of defamation, false light, and defamation by implication. The lawsuit highlights the personal impact of the false claims on the Macrons and their private life. French President Macron has addressed the rumors surrounding his wife, expressing the challenges of dealing with false information and fabricated stories as a public figure.