<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>French President </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/emmanuel-macron" rel="" target="_blank" title="Emmanuel Macron"><span>Emmanuel Macron</span></a><span> and his wife, Brigitte, have filed a 22-count defamation lawsuit in the US against right-wing podcaster Candace Owens over the claim that Brigitte could be a man.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The lawsuit filed in Delaware Superior Court alleges Owens has broadcast "a relentless year-long campaign of defamation against the Macrons" according to a statement from Tom Clare, the Macrons' lawyer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In March, conservative commentator Candace Owens revived an absurd conspiracy theory with a YouTube video titled "Is France's First Lady a Man?" according to the complaint.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/coca-cola-donald-trump-approved-version-soft-drink-usa/36549d6f-b914-4940-8ce2-1a8ccd1b7350" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Coca-Cola releasing Trump-approved new version of its soft drink</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Promoted widely on X, Owens said the conspiracy theory was, "likely the biggest scandal in political history."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Since then, Owens has produced numerous videos about Brigitte Macron for her nearly 4.5 million YouTube subscribers, including a multi-part series called "Becoming Brigitte."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The lawsuit further claims she has also sold merchandise promoting the claim.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/emmanuel-macron-sues-candace-owens-over-claims-wife-is-a-man/b8117774-07e7-46ff-ab84-4336c310824f" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/judge-rejects-trump-administration-effort-to-unseal-epstein-grand-jury-records-in-florida/0fb9627c-06d4-4a4a-bab3-15b070719de2" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Judge rejects bid to release Epstein grand jury records</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Macrons' complaint alleges Owens was the first person to bring these baseless claims to the US media and an international audience. The couple are suing for punitive damages and allege that they have suffered "substantial economic damages" including loss of future business opportunities.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On Instagram, Owens posted a screenshot Wednesday of an article referencing the Macrons' lawsuit and a picture of the couple with the caption: "I will be coming for this wig today. Stay tuned."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>CNN has reached out to Owens for comment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/judge-sentences-bryan-kohberger-to-life-in-prison-for-murdering-four-university-of-idaho-students/19886e7a-e274-4c31-8c41-ba0a4db1eb6c" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Less than human': Killer of four US uni students sentenced</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><a href="/content/2025/07/23/10/03/today-in-history-july-24-what-happened-on-this-day"><img alt="" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 636px, (min-width: 768px) 396px, 100vw" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/nfH9Al2utJ2CQvhGNZh-ujNaOa0=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Ff554bf2b-2e7e-4e0d-8cbf-4d1e4b235737" srcset="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/nfH9Al2utJ2CQvhGNZh-ujNaOa0=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Ff554bf2b-2e7e-4e0d-8cbf-4d1e4b235737 396w, https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/eA76VC_N2IGZKkYWH7rBXmZPQEI=/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Ff554bf2b-2e7e-4e0d-8cbf-4d1e4b235737 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">With a jump from a cliff, two men changed thrillseeking</div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/content/2025/07/23/10/03/today-in-history-july-24-what-happened-on-this-day">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Separately, Brigitte Macron sued two French women for spreading similar claims in 2022. After winning the initial case, this year the women won an appeal and the lawsuit will go to a higher court.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to the statement, these retraction demands to Owens were accompanied by, "incontrovertible evidence disproving her allegations and proving, among other things, that Mrs Macron was born a woman named Brigitte Trogneux, that she is not a blood relative of President Macron," and that the Macrons are not being controlled or blackmailed by unknown forces by a CIA-linked program.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Owens has used this false statement to promote her independent platform, gain notoriety, and make money," the official complaint said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The claims caused, "tremendous damage" to the Macrons, the complaint added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Every time the Macrons leave their home, they do so knowing that countless people have heard, and many believe, these vile fabrications. It is invasive, dehumanising, and deeply unjust," the complaint continued.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Macrons are seeking punitive damages against Owens and her business entities for 22 counts of defamation, false light, and defamation by implication, the statement said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At a Paris event in March 2024, Macron addressed the rumor around his wife saying that the worst part of being a president was having to deal with "the false information and fabricated stories."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"People end up believing them, and it disrupts your life, even in your most private moments," Macron said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>France's Elysee Palace said the lawsuit was a "private affair" and would not comment on the matter.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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