Conservative commentator Candace Owens is steadfast in her controversial claim that France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron, is a man, despite facing a defamation lawsuit brought by the French president and his wife. The legal battle, unfolding in Delaware, marks a dramatic confrontation over a baseless conspiracy theory that has persisted for over a year and highlights a broader trend of gender-focused misinformation targeting prominent women in politics and culture.
On July 23, 2025, Owens doubled down on her assertion, telling reporters, "Brigitte Macron is definitely a man," dismissing the lawsuit as a mere "public relations strategy." The Macrons, however, see it differently. Their lawyer, Tom Clare, described the lawsuit as a "last resort" after a year-long effort to persuade Owens to retract her false statements failed. "Each time we’ve done that, she mocked the Macrons," Clare told CNN. "Enough is enough." The complaint, a detailed 219-page document, presents "extensive evidence" confirming Brigitte Macron was born female, aiming to put an end to the relentless and damaging speculation.
The origins of the claim trace back to March 2024, when Owens first promoted the falsehood that Brigitte Macron was born a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux—a name that actually belongs to Brigitte’s older brother. Since then, Owens has repeatedly used this fabricated narrative to boost her independent platform, increase notoriety, and generate income. After the Macrons formally requested a retraction, Owens retaliated by releasing an eight-part podcast series titled "Becoming Brigitte," further fueling the controversy.
Owens’ YouTube channel, boasting 4.5 million followers, has amplified the reach of these claims, contributing to what the lawsuit describes as "relentless bullying on a worldwide scale." Clare warned that if Owens continues to propagate these defamatory statements, the Macrons will seek "substantial" damages, signaling their determination to protect their reputations.
The personal history of the Macrons adds context to the sensitivity surrounding these attacks. Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte met when he was a 15-year-old student and she was a 39-year-old teacher and married mother of three children. This unconventional relationship, already a subject of public fascination, has become fodder for conspiracy theorists eager to cast doubt on Brigitte’s identity.
Owens’ claims are not isolated but part of a disturbing pattern of conspiracy theories targeting influential women who challenge traditional gender norms and hold political sway. Former first lady Michelle Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris have faced similar baseless accusations, with persistent rumors alleging they were once men. WNBA star Brittney Griner, detained in Russia in 2022, was also subjected to false claims about her gender during her imprisonment. Even Britain’s Queen Camilla became the subject of manipulated videos falsely declaring she was "born a man." These attacks often coincide with the women’s left-leaning political stances and their roles in breaking gender stereotypes.
Experts studying conspiracy theories suggest that such narratives are strategically aimed at powerful figures. Joseph Uscinski, a political science professor at the University of Miami, explained, "Conspiracy theories are generally thrown at power, and these are powerful people." The accusations serve as a tool to undermine their legitimacy and influence. Joel Penney, a communications professor at Montclair State University, noted that these claims are frequently directed at women perceived as politically left or center-left, reflecting broader societal anxieties about gender and politics. "Asserting that they’re literally disguising their true identity and they’re doing these things behind the scenes is a way of mapping fears and anxieties about broader gender issues in politics and society onto them personally," Penney said.
The rise of these gender-focused conspiracy theories runs parallel to an increase in anti-transgender rhetoric and restrictive policies aimed at transgender individuals, particularly trans women. The term "transvestigating" has emerged to describe the practice of conspiracy theorists questioning a person’s gender and accusing them of being transgender as an attack. GLAAD, an advocacy group for LGBTQ+ rights, categorizes "transvestigating" as a form of online hate and disinformation targeting the LGBTQ+ community.
Throughout 2024, Republican campaign advertisements heavily focused on transgender issues, especially targeting trans women in women’s sports. This political climate has intensified suspicion toward women who do not conform to traditional female gender norms, further fueling conspiratorial narratives. Michael Mark Cohen, a professor of American studies and African American studies at the University of California, Berkeley, suggested that women like Macron, Obama, and Griner are targeted because their accomplishments and ambitions disrupt "correct" or "natural" gender roles. "Essentially, they undermine someone’s ‘correct’ or ‘natural’ gender roles, so they must secretly be men," Cohen said.
Aria Halliday, a women and gender studies professor at the University of Kentucky, highlighted that these attacks are not only rooted in transphobia but also, in cases involving women like Griner and Obama, in racism. She pointed out that the narratives aim to perpetuate the falsehood that women such as Obama and Macron are not truly women, thereby limiting the societal understanding of what women can look like, achieve, and how they participate in public life.
The Macrons’ lawsuit against Owens underscores the real-world consequences of such conspiracy theories. Beyond the personal distress inflicted on the Macrons, these narratives contribute to a toxic environment where misinformation, prejudice, and harassment flourish under the guise of political discourse. The case also illustrates the challenges of combating falsehoods in the digital age, where social media platforms can amplify baseless claims to vast audiences rapidly.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the broader implications for public discourse and the treatment of women in power remain at the forefront. The Macrons’ firm stance against Owens’ defamatory claims sends a message about the importance of accountability and the defense of personal dignity against harmful misinformation campaigns.
In a time when political polarization and identity politics often dominate headlines, the story of Candace Owens and Brigitte Macron serves as a stark reminder of how conspiracy theories can weaponize gender and identity to sow division and undermine public figures. It also highlights the ongoing struggle to define and respect gender identity in a complex and evolving social landscape.
