World
Paris Court convicts 10 over online harassment of French First Lady
A court in Paris has convicted 10 individuals for their roles in a sustained online harassment campaign directed at France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron.
The ruling, delivered on Monday, January 5, 2026, found the defendants guilty of spreading false and defamatory claims alleging that Mrs Macron is a transgender woman who was born male, French media reports said.
For several years, Brigitte Macron and her husband, President Emmanuel Macron, have been targets of conspiracy theories and coordinated online attacks.
One of the most persistent false narratives claimed that the French First Lady was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux — a name that actually belongs to her elder brother.
In addition to the misinformation, the Macrons have also faced sustained mockery and online abuse over their 24-year age difference.
While the presidential couple initially chose to ignore the criticism, they have in recent times taken legal steps to confront what they described as organised smear campaigns aimed at damaging their reputation.
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