Brigitte Macron ‘born a man’ theory gains traction after Paris court's controversial decision
Two women, Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey, convicted of defaming French first lady Brigitte Macron by saying she was ‘born a man’ were cleared on charges
Two women, Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey, convicted of defaming French first lady Brigitte Macron by saying she was ‘born a man’ were cleared on charges. A Paris Appeal Court on Thursday ruled that the clairvoyant and blogger had ‘every right’ to make the allegation. The ruling has further fueled the conspiracy theory about French President Emmanuel Macron's wife.
French President's wife Brigitte Macron looks on during a State Banquet (via REUTERS)
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Roy, 53, and Rey, 49, had claimed they were subjected to ‘intimidation’ by authorities as ‘ultra protected’ members tried to cover up a ‘state secret’. Claims about the 72-year-old first lady, whose maiden name is Trogneux, was born ‘a man’ and was named Jean-Michel Trogneux surfaced. She does have a brother - Jean-Michel.
Brigitte Macron filed a libel complaint against the two women after they made the outrageous claims in a YouTube video in 2021. The claim went viral and sparked conspiracy theories.
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A court in September last year ordered the women to pay 8,000 euros in damages to Brigitte Macron, and 5,000 euros ($5,500) to her brother. In January 2025, American commentator Candace Owens reignited the theory in a video titled Becoming Brigitte: An Introduction, claiming to “stake [her] career”.
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A court in September last year ordered the women to pay 8,000 euros in damages to Brigitte Macron, and 5,000 euros ($5,500) to her brother. In January 2025, American commentator Candace Owens reignited the theory in a video titled Becoming Brigitte: An Introduction, claiming to “stake [her] career”.
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President Emmanuel Macron called the rumors “false information” that “disturb intimacy". Tiphaine Auzière, Brigitte’s daughter, labeled them “grotesque” harassment.
Reacting to the Thursday ruling, one social media user said: “Brigitte Macron (born Jean Michel Trogneux) isn't just a man, but the Father of President Macron of France.”
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“Brigitte Macron, The French President's Emmanuel Macron's Wife is allegedly a MAN and it's now going Mainstream in France,” another one added on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.
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Home/World News/Brigitte Macron ‘born a man’ theory gains traction after Paris court's controversial decision
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