French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron are suing far-right commentator Candace Owens in Delaware for defamation. Owens has spent months promoting a conspiracy theory that Brigitte Macron was born male, using her podcast and an eight-part YouTube series, Becoming Brigitte, as platforms to spread these claims. The Macrons argue Owens has monetized this false narrative to gain notoriety.
The Lawsuit and Allegations
The lawsuit, filed in Delaware court, accuses Owens of deliberately spreading misinformation. The Macrons say Owens “used this false statement to promote her independent platform, gain notoriety, and make money.” Owens, however, denies wrongdoing and continues to defend her claims vigorously.
In March 2024, Owens boldly stated on X (formerly Twitter), “After looking into this, I would stake my entire professional reputation on the fact that Brigitte Macron is in fact a man.”
Trump’s Private Warning and Owens’ Public Push
Amid rising legal pressure, Owens revealed that President Trump personally called her, urging her to stop pushing the conspiracy about Brigitte Macron’s gender. Despite this private warning, Owens complains that neither Trump nor Ohio Senate candidate JD Vance has publicly supported her.
Owens argues that if Trump truly valued free speech, he would publicly condemn the Macron lawsuit. She suggested he could acknowledge Brigitte as a woman while also criticizing a foreign leader for threatening the First Amendment. Owens claims, “He could say, like he said to me on the phone, that ‘I looked at her real close in the Eiffel Tower, and it looked like a woman to me.’”
From Conspiracy to Courtroom: Owens’ Legal Battle
Owens has framed herself as a victim of an unprecedented legal attack from a foreign government. She accused Macron of “being a foreign invader” threatening American free speech. However, critics highlight the irony: Owens built significant revenue and audience engagement by promoting the conspiracy theory she now calls a legal battle.
Media and Expert Reactions
Media figures like Piers Morgan have openly criticized Owens. Morgan stated, “You kind of know the rumor about Brigitte is not true, but you’ve ridden the wave of conspiracy theory because it’s been so lucrative.” Legal experts point out that defamation suits depend on proving “actual malice,” meaning Owens either knowingly spread falsehoods or acted recklessly. Her public confidence in the claim may either defend or undermine her case.
What’s Next?
The lawsuit is expected to advance later this year with depositions and discovery phases. These legal steps could reveal more about Owens’ editorial process and whether the conspiracy campaign was deliberately monetized.
Meanwhile, Owens continues to call on political allies for public backing, but so far, neither Trump nor Vance has issued a statement.
James Jenkins is a celebrated Pulitzer Prize-winning author whose work has reshaped the way readers think about social justice and human rights in America. Raised in Atlanta, Georgia, James grew up in a community that instilled in him both resilience and a strong sense of responsibility toward others. After studying political science and creative writing at Howard University, he worked as a journalist covering civil rights issues before dedicating himself fully to fiction. His novels are known for their sharp, empathetic portraits of marginalized communities and for weaving personal stories with broader political realities. Jenkins’s breakout novel, Shadows of Freedom, won national acclaim for its unflinching look at systemic inequality, while his more recent works explore themes of identity, resilience, and the fight for dignity in the face of oppression. Beyond his novels, James is an active public speaker, lecturing at universities and participating in nonprofit initiatives that support literacy and community empowerment. He believes that storytelling is a way to preserve history and inspire change. When not writing, James enjoys jazz music, mentoring young writers, and traveling with his family to explore cultures and stories around the world.
