French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron have filed a defamation lawsuit against conservative commentator Candace Owens, following her claims that Brigitte was born male and transitioned to a woman. The suit, filed Wednesday in Delaware Superior Court, contains 22 counts and seeks damages from Owens for what the Macrons describe as a campaign of “outlandish, defamatory, and far-fetched fictions.”
“These claims are demonstrably false, and Owens knew they were false when she published them,” the lawsuit reads. “Yet, she published them anyway. And the reason is clear: it is not the pursuit of truth, but the pursuit of fame.”
According to court documents, Owens rejected three retraction requests from the Macrons, beginning in December 2024.
“Ms. Owens’ campaign of defamation was plainly designed to harass and cause pain to us and our families and to garner attention and notoriety,” the Macrons said in a statement.
Owens responded publicly, claiming the suit was an attack on her First Amendment rights. “Candace Owens is not shutting up,” her spokesperson said. “In France, politicians can bully journalists, but this is not France. It’s America.”
She also took to YouTube, comparing herself to a warrior in “Gladiator.” “This is why you’re here,” she told her viewers. “This is how I feel right now. Me receiving my papers today.”
The lawsuit accuses Owens of spreading misinformation with “reckless disregard for the truth,” alleging the series “Becoming Brigitte” monetized lies for fame and financial gain.
