Macrons Sue Candace Owens Over Gender Conspiracy Theory
French President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron filed a US defamation lawsuit against Candace Owens for spreading a false conspiracy theory alleging Brigitte was born male, seeking damages after retraction demands were ignored.
Candace Owens Responds to Macron Lawsuit
TIME Magazine
Overview
- French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte have jointly filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States against US influencer Candace Owens and her Delaware-based companies.
- The lawsuit specifically targets Owens for spreading a conspiracy theory claiming Brigitte Macron was born male under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, causing reputational damage.
- The Macrons initiated legal action after Owens reportedly rebuffed three separate demands for retractions of her widely disseminated and false claims.
- They are seeking unspecified damages and have requested a jury trial in the United States to address the harm caused by the outlandish allegations.
- This legal action follows previous defamation lawsuits Brigitte Macron has faced in France regarding similar claims, some of which were overturned on appeal.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally by focusing on the factual details of the defamation lawsuit filed by the macrons against candace owens. they present the lawyer's statements regarding the suit's purpose and the nature of the claims without adopting evaluative language or prioritizing one side's narrative over the objective reporting of the legal action.
"A lawyer for France’s first couple said they’ll be seeking “substantial” damages from U.S. conservative influencer Candace Owens if she persists with claims that President Emmanuel Macron’s wife, Brigitte, is a man."
Associated Press"Owens has built a brand on provocation, not truth, and the lawsuit filed by the Macrons asserts that her claims are totally false and defamatory."
Deadline"The Macrons said in a lawsuit filed in Delaware Superior Court that Owens has waged a lie-filled "campaign of global humiliation" and "relentless bullying" to promote her podcast and expand her "frenzied" fan base."
USA TODAY"The Macrons allege in their suit that Owens published the defamatory statements knowing they were false, and said she acted with reckless disregard for the truth."
CBS News"The Macrons said in a statement released by their attorneys that they asked Owens repeatedly for a retraction, but "ultimately concluded that referring the matter to a court of law was the only remaining avenue for remedy.""
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FAQ
Candace Owens spread the false conspiracy theory that Brigitte Macron was born male under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux.
The Macrons have jointly filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States against Candace Owens and her companies seeking damages and a jury trial. Brigitte Macron has also previously won damages in France against others who spread similar false claims.
Yes, Brigitte Macron previously won a defamation case in France where two women who spread a similar rumor were ordered to pay damages by the Paris Criminal Court.
Candace Owens claimed she would stake her entire professional reputation on the conspiracy theory about Brigitte Macron and called on journalists to investigate and report on the story, although she provided no evidence to support it.
Brigitte Macron's case is part of a growing trend where influential women, including former Michelle Obama and Jacinda Ardern, are targeted with false disinformation about their gender or sexuality to mock or humiliate them.
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