French court hands out prison sentences and damages in Brigitte Macron cyberbullying cases

A French court has sentenced 10 people for cyberbullying over online comments targeting Brigitte Macron, the wife of President Emmanuel Macron.

One man, who did not attend the hearing, was given a six-month prison sentence, while others received suspended sentences ranging from four to eight months. All were also ordered to pay damages to Mrs Macron.

Of the 10 defendants, only one formally apologised. He received the most lenient penalty and was ordered to attend a mandatory awareness course on the consequences of online behaviour.

Many of the comments targeted Mrs Macron with abusive and defamatory claims, including calling her a man, a cross-dresser and a paedophile.

The Paris Criminal Court ruled that the comments had “led to a deterioration in Brigitte Macron’s living conditions” and found that the damage to her physical and mental health had been established.

The president’s wife formally filed a complaint for cyberbullying in August 2024, after being subjected to years of online harassment.

The Macrons say they decided to take action after Mrs Macron’s grandchildren from her first marriage were being bullied at school because of the rumours.

A widely circulated conspiracy theory claimed that she was born Jean-Michel Trogneux (in fact the name of her older brother) and had undergone gender reassignment surgery.

Other comments accused her of crimes such as paedophilia or included what the court described as “malicious remarks” about the age difference between her and the president.

Alongside the French proceedings, a separate case is also making its way through the courts, with the Macrons suing US far-right online personality Candace Owens for defamation.

Controversial posts on social media

Several of the individuals sentenced used fake accounts on social media sites such as Elon Musk’s X to make inflammatory comments. 

Some, including Aurélien Poirson-Atlan who posted under the alias Zoé Sagan, continued to make similar comments during the trial. 

Delphine Jegousse, 51, known as Amandine Roy made similar comments during the trial having posted a four-hour long video in 2021 claiming to ‘prove’ Mrs Macron was a man, which subsequently went viral before being deleted.

“As a woman with a transgender body,” Ms Roy purportedly felt ‘attacked’ by Mrs Macron’s actions and refusal to ‘out’ herself. 

“We live in a system of royalty… [Brigitte Macron] is using her grandchildren to argue that she has been impacted.” a woman speaking for Ms Roy added. 

Bertrand Scholler, was also given a six-month suspended sentence. 

The gallery owner created a fake montage of photos showing Mrs Macron with a hairy chest. 

“If what you say is not to be liked, you will be condemned. It is the will of the prince.” he said in the court corridors following the verdict.

“In France we no longer have the right to think,” he added.