By Prosper Mene
A French appeal court on Thursday overturned the libel convictions of two women, Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey, who were accused of defaming French First Lady Brigitte Macron by falsely claiming she was transgender. The ruling has caused debate over free speech and the spread of disinformation targeting public figures.
The case originated from a December 2021 YouTube video in which Roy, a 53-year-old self-proclaimed spiritual medium, interviewed Rey, a 49-year-old self-described independent journalist. During the four-hour broadcast, Rey alleged that Brigitte Macron, 72, was born a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux, accusing her of hiding her identity in a “state lie.” The video gained traction online, particularly among far-right groups and conspiracy theorists, and spread to the United States, where figures like Candace Owens amplified the claims.The rumors, which surfaced before France’s 2022 presidential election, falsely suggested Brigitte Macron underwent gender reassignment and included personal details about her brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux. In September 2024, a lower court in Lisieux, Normandy, convicted Roy and Rey of libel, ordering them to pay €8,000 ($8,400) in damages to Brigitte Macron and €5,000 ($5,500) to her brother, along with fines of €1,700 each (Rey’s fine was later reduced to €400).
The Paris Appeals Court, however, reversed the convictions, ruling that Roy and Rey acted in “good faith” when making the claims, including a related false accusation of “grooming a minor.” The court offered no detailed reasoning, but the decision frees the women from paying damages or fines. Brigitte Macron’s legal team expressed disappointment, stating the First Lady was “devastated” and plans to appeal to France’s Cassation Court, the nation’s highest judicial authority.The ruling has divided opinions. Supporters of Roy and Rey, some hailed it as a win for free speech, with one post claiming Rey plans to sue Brigitte Macron for “fraud” related to the trial.
The appeals court’s decision is intertwined between free speech and protecting public figures from false narratives, leaving the First Lady’s legal battle far from resolved.
