False rumors that Brigitte Macron is transgender have been circulating for years. Now, Candace Owens, a far-right commentator in the US, has released a video reiterating the claims. The video has racked up millions of views.
In the video, she claims that Brigitte Macron was born a man and was named Jean-Michel Trogneux. She also claims that she has been threatened with legal action by the French president. Owens offers no evidence to support this claim.
This conspiracy theory has been circulating since Emmanuel Macron was first elected president in 2017. The theory was promoted by a woman who calls herself a journalist, Natacha Rey. Rey claimed that Brigitte never existed, was born biologically male, and was named Jean-Michel Trogneux. In fact, Jean-Michel is Brigitte's brother.
The only "evidence" is a childhood photo of Jean-Michel where he resembles Brigitte. But, since they are brother and sister, it is not at all unusual for them to resemble each other.
This prompted Brigitte Macron to file a defamation lawsuit against Roy and Rey. In September, a French court ordered them to pay 8,000 euros in damages to her and 5,000 euros to her brother.
Emmanuel Macron also commented on these claims for the first time last year, saying: "There are still crazy people."
The tactic of labeling someone as transgender isn't unique to Brigitte Macron. Many famous women, from Madonna to Michelle Obama to Melania Trump, have faced similar conspiracy theories.
Source: Euronews
