8 men & 2 women, aged 41-65, found guilty of cyberbullying France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron

A total of 10 people — eight men and two women — aged 41 to 65, were found guilty of cyberbullying France’s first lady Brigitte Macron.

A Paris court ruled on Jan. 5 that those accused were guilty of spreading false online claims about her gender and sexuality, reported France24.

They were accused of posting “numerous malicious comments”, which falsely claimed that President Emmanuel Macron’s wife was born a man, as well as linking their 24-year age gap to paedophilia.

Some of the posts were viewed tens of thousands of times, it was reported.

The court called the false claims regarding alleged trans identity and alleged pedocriminality “particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious”.

Fight harassment

Brigitte Macron did not show up for the two-day trial in October 2025.

In comments made on Jan. 4, she said she had launched legal proceedings to “set an example” to fight harassment, according to France24.

The Macrons have been married since 2007.

They first met at the high school where Emmanuel Macron was a student and Brigitte Macron was a teacher.

She is 24 years his senior.

Her maiden name was Brigitte Auzière, and she was a married mother of three.

Conspiracy theories over the years have alleged that Brigitte Macron was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is the name of her brother.

Online harassment intensified

Her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, told the court that her mother’s life deteriorated after the online harassment worsened, and she could not ignore it.

The impact extended to the entire family, including the grandchildren.

Punishments

The punishments meted out to the accused include having to undergo cyberbullying awareness training, as well as eight-month suspended prison sentences, reported France24.

Delphine Jegousse, 51, who is known as Amandine Roy, was given a six-month prison sentence.

A medium and author, she is considered to have played a major role in spreading the rumour about Brigitte Macron after she released a four-hour video on her YouTube channel in 2021.

Another defendant, Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, 41, known as Zoé Sagan on social media, had an X account that was suspended in 2024.

Poirson-Atlan was given an eight-month prison sentence.

Other defendants include an elected official, a teacher and a computer scientist.

Some told the court they did not understand why they were prosecuted as their comments were intended as humour or satire.

The Macrons have also filed a defamation suit in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens.

Top photos via Getty Images