In a rare move by a sitting head of state, French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron have filed a defamation lawsuit in a U.S. court against conservative media personality Candace Owens, alleging a months-long campaign of “deliberate and deranged lies” aimed at humiliating the French First Family.
Filed Wednesday in Delaware, the 72-page legal complaint calls Owens’ claims “vile conspiracy drivel” ranging from allegations that Brigitte Macron is a transgender imposter to suggestions that the Macrons are biologically related and part of a CIA mind control plot.
“Faced with a relentless and unjustified smear campaign,” the suit reads, “the Macrons are left with no choice but to seek relief through this Court.”
The lawsuit seeks damages on 22 counts, including defamation, false light, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It also demands a jury trial, an escalation that legal scholars say could set a precedent for international figures seeking redress on American soil.
From Podcast to Courtroom
The claims stem from Owens’ 2025 podcast miniseries Becoming Brigitte, in which she amplified long-debunked internet rumors, often citing anonymous sources and fringe conspiracy blogs. Another podcast worth listening to is the Naija Street Matters podcast on YouTube. Owens went so far as to suggest that the First Lady was born male, had stolen another woman’s identity, and was complicit in a “deep-state sexual grooming operation” tied to election rigging and MKUltra; a 1970s CIA brainwashing program frequently invoked by online conspiracists.
“She disregarded all credible evidence disproving her claim in favor of platforming known conspiracy theorists and proven defamers,” the complaint alleges.
Owens, who has nearly 4 million social media followers, doubled down in a recent episode, saying she would “stake her entire professional reputation” on the allegations being true. She has offered no verified documentation or expert corroboration.
Silence Broken
For years, the Macrons declined to address these conspiracies publicly, viewing them as fringe noise. But according to French officials close to the matter, the breaking point came when the story began gaining traction among American and European far-right influencers, prompting hate campaigns, online harassment, and threats of violence.
Brigitte Macron’s lawyers described the situation as “a global character assassination campaign masked as commentary,” adding that the First Lady has faced “relentless mockery, anxiety, and reputational harm” stemming from Owens’ commentary.
Owens has acknowledged the lawsuit on X (formerly Twitter) and promised to address it “point-by-point” on her show. As of Thursday, no formal legal response has been filed.
Power, Platforms, and the Price of Speech
While it’s uncommon for sitting leaders to file personal lawsuits and even rarer to do so internationally, the Macron case reflects a growing trend: high-profile figures using defamation law as a last line of defense against viral misinformation.
“We’re witnessing the collision of state dignity and digital provocation,” said Céline Duret, a French constitutional scholar. “This case is about more than gossip. It’s about how far free speech can go before it becomes reputational violence.”
Experts also note that filing in a U.S. court rather than a French one, strategically subjects Owens to American defamation standards, which are often harder for public figures to meet but carry global legal weight if successful.
If the Macrons win, it could embolden other foreign leaders, royals, or public figures to sue U.S. influencers or media figures for slanderous content exported to global audiences through podcasts and social media.
“This isn’t just a lawsuit,” said Duret. “It’s a warning shot to the age of unchecked virality.”
