French President Emmanuel Macron together with his wife Brigitte have taken serious legal action, filing a defamation lawsuit against American influencer Candace Owens. The dispute concerns false claims about the identity of France’s First Lady, which are characterized as “bizarre, defamatory and extreme products of fantasy” according to the legal document.
Owens’ social media campaign
Candace Owens has systematically repeated these claims through her popular podcast and social media channels. With nearly 7 million followers on X, her influence is significant. In March 2024, Owens went so far as to declare she would bet her “entire professional reputation” on her claims. Additionally, she published a video series titled “Becoming Brigitte,” further amplifying the spread of conspiracy theories.
The influencer’s response to the lawsuit
Through her latest podcast, Owens responded to the lawsuit by calling the charges “nonsense” and describing the legal action as an “obviously desperate public relations strategy.” The conspiracy theory she promotes has been circulating online for years, claiming that Brigitte Macron was born with the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which belongs to her brother.
The official position of the presidential couple
The Macrons, through their legal representatives, released a statement noting that they had repeatedly asked Owens to retract her claims. Her refusal led them to the decision to resort to legal action.
“Ms. Owens’ defamation campaign was designed exclusively to harass us and cause harm to us and our families, while attracting attention. We provided her with every opportunity to retract her claims, but she refused,” they stated.
The fact that a head of state is filing a lawsuit against an influencer represents an unprecedented phenomenon, highlighting the enormous influence that social media now wields in shaping public opinion.
History of conspiracy theories
This is not the first time Owens has promoted controversial theories. In the past, she has expressed doubts about:
• Covid-19 vaccines
• The historical reality of the Holocaust
• The authenticity of the moon landing
Personal profile and family relationships
The influencer is married to British-American businessman George Farmer, son of Baron Michael Farmer, a former Conservative Party executive. It’s noteworthy that her father-in-law has distanced himself from many of the views expressed by his daughter-in-law, showing the internal tensions that extreme positions can create.
