Paris Trial Commences Over Cyber-Harassment of France's First Lady

A group of ten individuals will stand trial in Paris on Monday and Tuesday for alleged cyber-harassment against France's first lady, Brigitte Macron. The trial comes after false claims alleging that she is transgender. The accused group consists of eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, who are alleged to have made derogatory comments online about her gender and sexuality, even connecting her age gap with President Emmanuel Macron to 'paedophilia'.

If the defendants are found guilty, they could receive a sentence of up to two years in prison. Carlo Brusa, representing one of the accused, commented on the impact of tweets and social media posts that could be interpreted as harassment.

The story, which has gone viral worldwide, sparked legal actions, including a defamation lawsuit by the Macrons against U.S. influencer Candace Owens. Mrs. Macron had filed a complaint in 2024, resulting in several arrests. Despite winning a lawsuit against two women who spread these rumors, an appeals court decision was recently overturned, prompting further legal steps.