A French appeals court overturned libel convictions against two women who falsely claimed First Lady Brigitte Macron was born male. The court ruled the defendants acted in “good faith” when spreading the debunked conspiracy theory, voiding their €13,000 damages order. This decision doesn’t validate the claims—multiple sources confirm Brigitte Macron is cisgender and the rumors are false misinformation.
## Court Ruling Details
The Paris Appeals Court reversed a 2024 conviction against Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey, who produced a YouTube video alleging Brigitte Macron transitioned from a man named “Jean-Michel Trogneux”. Though the lower court found them guilty of libel, the appeals court dismissed damages, citing the defendants’ “good faith” belief in their claims. No evidence supports the theory, which has circulated since 2017.
## Persistent Misinformation Campaign
These baseless rumors resurface regularly, amplified by far-right figures like Candace Owens. Similar false claims have targeted Michelle Obama and Jacinda Ardern. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the theories as “fabricated scenarios” fueled by misogyny. Brigitte Macron previously sued Roy and Rey in 2021 over the same claims.
## Legal Context
The ruling doesn’t endorse the conspiracy theory. It merely addresses procedural aspects of the libel case. Four men face separate October 2025 trials for harassing the first lady over these rumors. Conservatives should reject such unfounded smears against public figures and defend factual discourse.