"Macron vs. Owens: A Defamation Showdown Over Outrageous Claims!"
⚖️ A LEGAL BATTLE BREWS! ⚖️
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte have launched a defamation lawsuit against right-wing influencer Candace Owens, who has made sensational claims that France's first lady was born male. The legal action, filed on Wednesday in Delaware, accuses Owens of spreading "outlandish, defamatory, and far-fetched fictions."
🎙️ A PODCAST OF CONTROVERSY:
Owens has repeatedly pushed these claims on her popular podcast and social media platforms, boldly stating in March 2024 that she would stake her "entire professional reputation" on her belief that Mrs. Macron "is in fact a man." In a recent episode, she doubled down on her allegations, dismissing the lawsuit as "just goofy" and labeling it an "obvious, desperate public relations strategy."
🕵️♀️ A FRINGE CONSPIRACY:
The bizarre conspiracy theory, which has circulated in fringe online circles for years, alleges that Mrs. Macron was born male under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, a name that also belongs to her brother. Owens has amplified this theory to her nearly 7 million followers on X, previously known as Twitter, and even released a video series titled Becoming Brigitte.
📜 A STATEMENT FROM THE MACRONS:
In a statement from their attorneys, the Macrons expressed their frustration, revealing that they had repeatedly asked Owens for a retraction but ultimately felt that taking legal action was their only option. "Ms. Owens' campaign of defamation was plainly designed to harass and cause pain to us and our families and to garner attention and notoriety," the statement read.
💔 A PERSONAL ATTACK:
The lawsuit alleges that Owens ignored credible evidence disproving her claims and instead chose to platform known conspiracy theorists and proven defamers. It also accuses her of making false allegations that the Macrons are blood relatives and that Emmanuel Macron was installed in office through a secret CIA plot.
📰 A HISTORY OF CONTROVERSY:
Owens, who previously worked for conservative organizations like Turning Point and Daily Wire, has a track record of spreading conspiracy theories, including those surrounding Covid vaccines, the Holocaust, and even the moon landings.
💰 SEEKING DAMAGES:
The lawsuit not only targets Owens but also her Delaware-based companies, seeking unspecified damages. Under US law, the Macrons will need to prove "actual malice," meaning they must show that Owens knew her claims were false but published them anyway.
⚖️ A PREVIOUS LIBEL CASE:
In September, a French court found two women guilty of libel for spreading false claims about Brigitte Macron, but that decision was overturned on appeal earlier this month, according to local media.
💍 A FAMILY CONNECTION:
Candace Owens is married to George Farmer, a British-American entrepreneur and the son of Baron Michael Farmer, a House of Lords peer who has distanced himself from some of his daughter-in-law's more controversial views.
