Four individuals are set to appear in court next year in Paris for allegedly harassing France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron, online. The accusations include spreading disinformation about her gender, malicious comments about her personal life, and incitement to commit an offense, the public prosecutor announced on Thursday.
Brigitte Macron, who has faced online attacks for years over her gender and the 24-year age gap with her husband, President Emmanuel Macron, filed a formal complaint in August. Authorities then launched an investigation, leading to charges of cyber harassment.
The upcoming hearings, scheduled for July and October next year, will address:
Prosecutors confirmed the investigation stems from hateful online posts that have circulated for years, perpetuating baseless rumors.
One of the accused, Aurelien Poirson-Atlan, also known as “Zoe Sagan” on social media, is a publicist associated with conspiracy theory groups. Poirson-Atlan’s lawyer, Juan Branco, criticized the charges as politically motivated.
Among the false claims shared online is the baseless assertion that Brigitte Macron, formerly Brigitte Trogneux, is a transgender individual, alleging she had assumed her brother’s identity. This rumor sparked widespread controversy, extending beyond France and appearing in conspiracy theories in the United States.
In a related case earlier this year, a French court ordered two women to pay €8,000 in damages to Brigitte Macron for spreading similar false claims.
Cyber harassment is an increasing concern in France. In a separate incident, three individuals are due in court next September for cyberstalking and issuing death threats against French DJ Barbara Butch. Butch faced backlash after performing at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony in July.
The DJ vowed to continue speaking out against online abuse, stating, “I won’t shut up. I’m not afraid of those who hide behind screens to spew hatred.”
If convicted, the accused in both cases could face up to two years in prison under French cyber harassment laws.
Brigitte Macron’s case highlights the growing threat of online abuse targeting public figures, particularly women, and the urgent need for stricter measures to counter digital harassment.
