A Paris court on Monday found 10 people guilty of cyber-harassing France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron. The convicts spread false claims about her gender and sexuality. The ruling comes as the Macrons increasingly challenge online abuse through legal action.
The 10 convicts include eight men and two women, all handed up to eight months with suspended sentences. They reportedly equated Brigitte Macron’s age difference with her husband to “paedophilia” and spread false claims that she was transgender. French media noted the attacks also invoked her older brother’s name.
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Brigitte and President Emmanuel Macron have faced such allegations for years but recently chose to take legal action. The court ruling marks a victory for the couple, complementing a separate US defamation lawsuit against influencer Candace Owens. Officials said the sentence sends a message against online harassment.
Brigitte Macron told TF1 the attacks appeared endless, including intrusions into her tax website. She emphasized the importance of birth certificates as proof of identity. The first lady also expressed hope her fight would inspire adolescents to resist online bullying.
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Analysts say the case highlights growing concern over cyber-harassment of public figures in France. Legal experts note that suspended sentences are intended to deter online abuse while reinforcing freedom of expression boundaries. The Macron case may set a precedent for future cyberbullying prosecutions.