France’s presidential couple is at the center of a surreal and hurtful conspiracy theory. President Emmanuel Macron is now preparing to present “photographic and scientific evidence” in a U.S. court to counter allegations that his wife, Brigitte Macron, is actually a man.

Their lawyer, Tom Clare, confirmed that the French leader plans to provide pictures of the First Lady pregnant and raising her children as part of a defamation case against U.S. political commentator Candace Owens, who amplified the false claims.

“This is offensive and deeply upsetting,” Clare said on the BBC. “The Macrons are world divs, but they are also human beings. To be accused of conspiring to deceive the world about their identities is incredibly painful. Having to provide such intimate proof should not be necessary.”

Where did the conspiracy theory come from?

The origins of this rumor stretch back to 2017, when French blogger Natacha (or Nathalie) Rey uploaded a YouTube video claiming that Brigitte Macron was in fact her brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux, who had supposedly transitioned genders.

In 2021, Rey repeated the claim during an interview with spiritual medium Amandine Roy. The video went viral just ahead of the 2022 French presidential election, fueling speculation among far-right circles.

Rey even circulated a supposed “childhood photo” of Brigitte’s brother, arguing that it bore a striking resemblance to the First Lady.

The Macrons sued Rey and Roy for defamation and initially won in September 2024. However, the Paris Court of Appeal overturned the verdict in July 2025, ruling that the pair had acted “in good faith” and that the allegations did not legally constitute defamation—a decision that reignited controversy.

Candace Owens brings the claims to America

The conspiracy crossed the Atlantic when Candace Owens, a U.S. far-right influencer with more than four million YouTube subscribers, repeated the allegations in 2024. She claimed Brigitte Macron was a man and went as far as to say she would stake her “entire professional reputation” on it.

Despite attempts by the Macrons to get Owens to retract her remarks, she doubled down, describing the French First Lady as a “very goofy man.”

In July 2025, the couple filed a defamation lawsuit against Owens in the United States, calling it a “last resort” after more than a year of failed private appeals. Owens, in response, dismissed the lawsuit as a “desperate public relations strategy.”

What evidence will the Macrons provide?

According to their lawyer, Emmanuel Macron is prepared to submit:

• Photographs of Brigitte Macron pregnant and raising her three children.
• Scientific evidence, likely medical or legal records, to counter the false claims.

The unusual step highlights how seriously the French presidency is treating the issue, not only to defend Brigitte Macron’s reputation but also to set a precedent against the spread of personal, unfounded conspiracies.

Why this matters

While the allegations may seem absurd, the case underscores several larger issues:

• The viral power of disinformation: A fringe claim from a blogger in 2017 snowballed into a transatlantic scandal shaping headlines in 2025.
• Weaponization of conspiracy theories in politics: The claims gained traction during an election cycle, echoing tactics seen elsewhere where personal attacks are used to destabilize political opponents.
• Legal challenges in an era of misinformation: The reversal of the French defamation ruling—and the need to fight a separate case in the U.S.—illustrates how courts struggle to balance free speech with reputational harm.

The Macrons’ personal history

Emmanuel Macron, now 47, met Brigitte, now 72, while she was his high school teacher in Amiens. At the time, she was married with three children. The two stayed in touch after Macron moved to Paris for his final year of high school, and he promised to marry her someday.

They wed in 2007, long before Macron entered the Élysée Palace. Despite years of scrutiny over their age gap, their relationship has remained one of the most talked-about partnerships in global politics.

A couple often in the spotlight

The First Lady has long been a target of rumors, with her age and marriage often fueling tabloid speculation. Earlier this year, a viral clip appeared to show Brigitte Macron shoving her husband’s face aside as they deboarded a plane. Macron later dismissed it as a “joke.”

But the transgender conspiracy goes far beyond light gossip. By forcing the French President to supply evidence of his wife’s gender and pregnancies in court, it reveals the damaging extremes of misinformation culture in an age where rumors spread faster than facts.

TL;DR

A bizarre conspiracy theory claims Brigitte Macron, France’s First Lady, is actually a man. Originating in 2017 from a French blogger, it resurfaced in 2021, was picked up by U.S. influencer Candace Owens in 2024, and is now the subject of a U.S. defamation lawsuit. Emmanuel Macron plans to submit photographic and scientific proof to disprove the allegations, highlighting how misinformation can spiral into international legal battles.