In a recent legal decision, a Parisian court has imposed fines and ordered compensation payments to be made by two women who spread rumors about French President Emmanuel Macron’s wife, Brigitte. The defendants, self-proclaimed spiritual medium Amandine Roy and independent journalist Natacha Rey, claimed that Brigitte Macron was born a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux. Their allegations led to the widespread use of the hashtag #JeanMichelTrogneux on social media platforms in December 2021.
Brigitte Macron, whose maiden name is Brigitte Marie-Claude Trogneux, filed a defamation lawsuit against Roy and Rey in the following year, accusing them of violating her privacy. The Parisian court ruled in her favor, imposing suspended fines of €500 on both women and ordering them to pay €8,000 in damages to Mrs. Macron. Additionally, they were also ordered to pay €5,000 to Jean-Michel Trogneux, the actual brother of Brigitte Macron.
During her interview with Roy, Rey claimed that she had spent three years researching Brigitte Macron’s alleged secret and that evidence of her gender transition was stored in a sealed envelope deposited with a lawyer whose name is well-known. This information would be made public if France introduced compulsory Covid-19 vaccination, she asserted.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his concern about the spread of false information and fabricated scenarios during an interview last year, stating that “the worst thing” is that “people end up believing them.” The rumors about Brigitte Macron’s birth gender have raised questions about President Macron’s relationship with her, as she is 24 years his senior and was previously his teacher. While on the campaign trail in 2017, Emmanuel Macron faced accusations of homosexuality, which he dismissed as “unpleasant” for Brigitte.
As a result of this legal ruling, Roy and Rey will have to pay substantial compensation to both Brigitte Macron and her brother Jean-Michel Trogneux, while also facing suspended fines for their actions.