Featured Image Credit: Benjamin Cremel - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Topics: Emmanuel Macron, Politics, US News, World News
Madison Burgess
Topics: Emmanuel Macron, Politics, US News, World News
Brigitte Macron has responded after the conspiracy theorists who started the rumour she ‘was a man’ have been cleared in court.
For those not familiar with the case, The First Lady of France, Emmanuel Macron’s wife, 72, has been plagued with online claims and misinformation surrounding her gender for years.
And on Thursday, the courts in Paris overturned earlier convictions against two women for spreading the false claims that quickly went viral on social media.
Following the verdict, she has taken the case to the highest appeals court, her lawyer said on Monday, reports France 24.
Advert
The First Lady initially filed a libel complaint against the two women back in December 2021, after they posted a YouTube video outlining their wild theory.
They alleged that Brigitte had once been a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux, who is actually her brother.
The four-hour long video saw defendant, self-proclaimed spiritual medium Amandine Roy, interviewing Natacha Rey, a ‘self-described independent journalist.'
Rey claimed to have uncovered that Jean-Michel Trogneux changed gender and became Brigitte, before marrying Emmanuel Macron.
Of course, wild conspiracists took this as gospel and the claim quickly went viral in America.
In September last year, a court found Rey and Roy guilty of defaming the First Lady and ordered them to cough up 8,000 euros in damages to her, and a further 5,000 euros to her brother.
However, after they were cleared on appeal on Thursday, both Brigitte and her brother are taking the case to the highest appeals court, the Court de Cassation.
The Paris court of appeal overturned the conviction and said that the 18 pieces of video fell in line with good faith and free speech and didn't constitute defamation, reports The Telegraph.
According to the publication Jean Ennochi, the lawyer for Brigitte Macron said: “I’m going to see what my clients and I are going to do, but obviously we don’t agree with this ruling.”
Meanwhile, MailOnline reports that the First Lady’s lawyers said she was ‘devastated’ by the latest development surrounding the false claims.
The defendants lawyers on the other hand, showed relief, with Maud Marian, Roy’s lawyer, simply saying: “We’re acquitted.”
Rey’s lawyer, François Danglehant, added: “Natacha Rey, hunted, persecuted, condemned. But ultimately Natacha Rey, acquitted.”
The latest updates in the case come just after the Macrons returned from a state visit to the UK, where they spent time with the British royals.
The couple spent time with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The French president and his first lady were treated to a full itinerary while over in London, which included a a carriage ride to Windsor.
Amid their busy schedule, the Macrons also attended a glitzy state banquet with the British royals, which was the Princess of Wales’ first in two years.