On September 12, 2024, a Paris court convicted two women, Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey, of defamation for spreading false rumors about Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron. The women were found guilty of claiming that the First Lady of France is a transgender woman who was born as Jean-Michel Trogneux.The court sentenced Roy and Rey to a suspended fine of 500 euros each and ordered them to pay 8,000 euros in damages to Brigitte Macron and 5,000 euros to her brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux. The rumors, which have been circulating on social media since Emmanuel Macron’s election in 2017, gained significant traction after the women participated in a four-hour YouTube interview in 2021.Jean Ennochi, Brigitte Macron’s lawyer, emphasized the ‘enormous’ harm caused by the misinformation, which ‘spread everywhere’ in the world. He stated, ‘This is not a victory, it’s just the normal application of the law,’ and revealed that legal actions are underway in France and abroad to combat such false information.President Emmanuel Macron has previously denounced these rumors, calling them ‘the worst kind of lie’ that can ‘infect even the closest people’. In March 2024, he referred to those who believed the rumor as ‘fadas’ (crazy people).This case highlights the ongoing issue of misinformation and its impact on public figures. It also demonstrates the legal consequences that can arise from spreading false information, especially when it involves defamation of high-profile individuals.
Key points
- Two women convicted of defamation for spreading false transgender rumors about Brigitte Macron.
- The convicted women were fined and ordered to pay damages to Brigitte Macron and her brother.
- The case highlights the impact of misinformation on public figures and the legal consequences of spreading false information.
