‘French First Lady was born male’: Candace Owens responds to Macron defamation lawsuit
American conservative commentator, Candace Owens has responded to a defamation lawsuit filed by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, over her repeated claims that the French First Lady was born male.
In a video posted to her YouTube channel, Owens doubled down on her allegation and said she was ready to face the Macrons in court, even if the case proceeded to the discovery phase of litigation.
“You were born a man and you will die a man. That’s the point I’m making,” Owens said. “So give us a sample. I’ll send my doctors to take your blood. We’ll get to the bottom of it.”
The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday in Delaware Superior Court, accuses Owens of launching a campaign of global humiliation and relentless bullying based on a conspiracy theory that Brigitte Macron, 72, was born as Jean-Michel Trogneux.
The Macrons described the campaign as “invasive, dehumanising, and deeply unjust,” stating that they are constantly confronted by the claims in public.
The 22-count civil complaint seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. It marks a rare instance of a sitting world leader and their spouse bringing a defamation suit in a U.S. court.
DAILY POST reports that under US law, public figures must prove “actual malice” that a defendant knowingly made false statements or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
Owens, who has a large online following and is known for her far-right political views and support for US President Donald Trump, dismissed the lawsuit as an attempt to silence her.
“I’d like to make it to discovery. I think we owe that to the world,” she said. “We’re revolting against the perverts that run the world… I think you’re sick. I think you’re disgusting.”
Claims about Brigitte Macron’s gender have circulated in French far-right circles for years, but the lawsuit claims Owens’ promotion of the conspiracy brought it to a wider global audience and caused significant harm to the couple.
‘French First Lady was born male’: Candace Owens responds to Macron defamation lawsuit
