Macrons File Defamation Lawsuit Against US Influencer Candace Owens

The French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, have initiated legal action against American conservative influencer Candace Owens in a Delaware court. The lawsuit centers around Owens' claim that Brigitte Macron was born male, a statement she made in March 2024 on the social media platform X and during her podcast.

According to court documents, the Macrons allege that Owens aimed to leverage the shock value of her statements to increase her visibility online. After a year of attempts to persuade Owens to retract her claims, the couple has resorted to legal measures to protect their reputations.

Owens has been accused of knowingly spreading falsehoods about the couple, with the aim of generating revenue through her platforms. The lawsuit details allegations that Owens responded to the Macrons' requests for a retraction with further fabricated claims, including unfounded assertions that the couple is related and that Emmanuel Macron attained the presidency of France through a CIA program.

Legal representatives for the Macrons characterized the situation as part of a broader campaign of global humiliation directed at them, describing it as invasive, dehumanizing, and fundamentally unjust. The lawsuit comprises 22 counts against Owens, highlighting the severity of the accusations.

Candace Owens, who boasts a significant following of approximately 4.4 million subscribers on YouTube and nearly 7 million on X, has been a polarizing figure known for her controversial views. In 2024, she was denied entry into Australia due to her history of disseminating false information regarding topics such as the Holocaust and Islam.

The case underscores the increasing tensions surrounding misinformation and its implications on public figures, particularly in the context of social media where such claims can spread rapidly.