Candace Owens vs. the Macrons’ Battle

Candace Owens, a prominent Conservative commentator, is well-known for her controversial takes on various social issues currently affecting our society. Whether it is speaking out against the COVID-19 vaccines or cancel culture, Owens has built her brand around challenging widely accepted beliefs. Her commentary has now gone global, but not in the way she may have expected. French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, are suing Owens for defamation.

In the 219-page lawsuit, which was filed July 23rd, 2025, the Macrons claim that Owens has been making false claims in insisting that Brigitte was “born a male” since March of 2024. Furthermore, they say her claim has caused them “substantial economic damages,” such as a loss of future business opportunities.

During the beginning of Owens’s crusade, on March 12, 2024, Owens tweeted that she “would stake [her] professional reputation on the fact that Brigitte Macron is a man.” Aside from this comment, the Macrons’ lawsuit also claims that “Owens has used this false statement to promote her independent platform, gain notoriety and make money.” To support this, the Macrons referenced the fact that she is currently selling merchandise on her website based on this conspiracy theory.

According to CNN, the Macrons’ attorney, Tom Clare, had asked Owens to stop making these false claims about Brigitte. However, Owens refused. On January 31, 2025, she went on to create a series called, “Becoming Brigitte,” where she could continue the saga.

This lawsuit was the last option that Macron and his wife wanted to pursue, and it is about more than seeking monetary compensation for Owens’ actions. The defamation suit aims to hold Owens accountable for her words. However, without real evidence to support her claims, it will be a tough battle for her when it comes to defending her claims in front of a jury and a judge.

The Legal Requirements for Defamation

However, the court may not side with the Macrons, as there are requirements that the Macrons have to prove in order to win the case. According to Forbes, these requirements include proving the following:

1. A false statement was made.
2. The statement was shown to a third party, either written or oral.
3. Owens did not take the time to prove that her statements could be false.
4. The statement is not legally protected.
5. Owen’s comments caused harm to the Macrons.

(Not) Brigitte Macron’s First Rodeo

While Owens is currently facing a lawsuit for claiming that Brigitte Macron was born a male, this is sadly not the first time these claims have been made. In December 2021, freelance journalist Natacha Rey and a spiritual medium named Amandine Roy believed that Brigitte Macron’s brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux, transitioned and started using the name Brigitte. 

As a result of this claim, Brigitte Macron filed a lawsuit against the two women, and the court ordered them to pay $8,859 to her and $6,766 to her brother. However, both Rey and Roy were cleared of these charges by the Paris Appeals Court, after the court found that they had every right to make these claims. Brigitte’s team plans to appeal this ruling to the Court of Cassation, which is France’s highest court. 

Candace Owens’ Response to Lawsuit

Now, Owens is not going to go down without a fight. On her podcast, she said that she is “fully prepared to take on this battle on behalf of the entire world.” She also said that this lawsuit is an “obvious and desperate public relations strategy.” She demands that Brigitte Macron show childhood pictures and provide blood samples proving her biological sex.

In addition to her own platform, Owens continued the fight during her latest guest presence on The Tucker Carlson Show.  

What About Freedom of Speech?

The lawsuit against Owens highlights the consequences of spreading misinformation or loosely backed statements about specific individuals. Even though I do not agree with the things that Owens believes, I give her credit for being courageous enough to stand by her beliefs. While I can understand that Owens has the right to the freedom of speech as a U.S. citizen, it does not excuse someone from possible legal consequences. 

This understanding should apply to everyone, whether you are a Conservative, an Independent or a Progressive. If you are going to be bold enough to post your opinions on social media, make sure to have the evidence to back them up. Without this, you will lose your credibility to speak the truth surrounding important issues.

Acknowledgement: The ideas expressed in this article are those of the individual author.