French first lady Brigitte Macron plagued by ‘deep anxiety’ over false claims she’s a man, daughter reveals

Brigitte Macron Battles Deep Anxiety Amid Persistent Gender-Based Disinformation Campaign

French First Lady Brigitte Macron has been grappling with profound emotional distress due to a relentless wave of online harassment and conspiracy theories falsely claiming she is a man.

This deeply personal revelation came to light during a Paris court trial, where her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified about the severe toll the disinformation has taken on her mother’s mental health and family life.

Tiphaine Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, described her mother’s suffering as “deep anxiety,” triggered by persistent and malicious online rumors that question Brigitte Macron’s gender and sexuality.

These claims, which have circulated widely on social media and conspiracy platforms, have not only targeted the First Lady but have also deeply affected her family. According to Auzière, Brigitte now lives in constant fear of being misrepresented, scrutinizing her clothing and demeanor to avoid further distortion and ridicule. The harassment is so pervasive that “not a single week goes by without her being harassed,” Auzière told the court.

The trial centers on ten individuals, eight men and two women aged between 41 and 60, accused of cyberbullying and defamation. Among the defendants is Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, a 41-year-old advertising executive who allegedly operated under the pseudonym “Zoé Sagan” and is known for promoting conspiracy theories.

The group includes a teacher, an elected official, an IT specialist, and a business owner. If convicted, they face up to two years in prison.

The emotional damage inflicted on Brigitte Macron has been corroborated by medical assessments, and her daughter emphasized the anguish of having her grandchildren exposed to such cruel and baseless allegations.

The family feels powerless in the face of this digital onslaught, with Brigitte reportedly saying she “doesn’t know how to make it stop.”

This domestic legal battle follows a separate defamation lawsuit filed in the United States by President Emmanuel Macron and his wife against right-wing commentator Candace Owens.

The lawsuit, lodged in Delaware, accuses Owens of orchestrating a “relentless year-long campaign of defamation,” including a YouTube video provocatively titled “Is France’s First Lady a Man?” which Owens described as “likely the biggest scandal in political history.”

The broader implications of this case touch on the dangers of unchecked online misinformation, the vulnerability of public figures to digital abuse, and the psychological consequences of cyberbullying.

Brigitte Macron’s ordeal underscores how disinformation can transcend borders, infiltrate personal lives, and weaponize identity in ways that are both cruel and destabilizing.