A Paris court has found ten individuals guilty of harassing France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron, on social media. The case highlights the growing legal crackdown on online hate speech and gender-based cyberbullying in France.

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Background: Cyberbullying Against Brigitte Macron

Brigitte Macron, 72, who met her husband President Emmanuel Macron while teaching drama at his school, has faced years of online harassment. Many of the attacks focused on her gender, sexuality, and the age gap between her and the 48-year-old president, with false claims suggesting she was born male under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, her brother’s name.

These persistent claims, spread across multiple platforms, sparked a wave of public defamation that targeted not only Brigitte Macron but also affected her family, including her grandchildren.

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Court Verdict: Guilty Sentences

On Monday, January 5, 2026, the Paris court delivered its verdict:

• Eight defendants (aged 41–65) received suspended prison sentences ranging from 4 to 8 months.
• One defendant, absent from the hearing, was sentenced to six months in prison.
• The final defendant was required to complete a course on online hate speech.

Prosecutors had sought the harshest sentence against Aurelien Poirson-Atlan (aka Zoe Sagan), one of the most active harassers online.

Another notable defendant, gallery owner Bertrand Scholler (56), claimed the trial threatened his “freedom to think” and criticized what he described as the “media deep state.”

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Impact on Brigitte Macron and Her Family

The harassment has taken a profound toll on Brigitte Macron’s personal life. During the trial, her daughter Tiphaine Auziere testified about the family-wide impact, citing the “deterioration” of her mother’s daily life. She noted that the harassment extended to the Macron grandchildren, creating a stressful and emotionally taxing environment.

Brigitte Macron herself spoke publicly on TF1 television, emphasizing the importance of setting an example for adolescents and others facing online abuse:

“A birth certificate is not nothing. It is a father or a mother who goes to declare their child, who says who he is or who she is. I want to help adolescents to fight against harassment, and if I do not set an example, it will be difficult.”

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International Dimension: Defamation Cases Abroad

The Macrons are also pursuing a defamation lawsuit in the United States against right-wing influencer Candace Owens, who spread similar false claims about Brigitte Macron. Several defendants in Paris had shared posts from Owens, amplifying the harassment across national borders.

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The Broader Significance

The case underscores several important issues:

• The legal accountability of cyberbullies, especially when attacks involve gender and personal identity.
• The role of courts in protecting public figures and families from defamation and online abuse.
• The international reach of misinformation, highlighting the challenges of social media platforms in controlling the spread of harmful content.

Legal experts say the verdict sends a strong message: online harassment, particularly targeting personal identity and gender, will not be tolerated in France.

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Key Takeaways

• Ten individuals were found guilty of cyberbullying Brigitte Macron.
• Sentences ranged from suspended jail terms to mandatory courses on hate speech.
• The harassment targeted her gender, sexuality, and age difference with Emmanuel Macron.
• Brigitte Macron’s family, including grandchildren, were affected by the abuse.
• The case is part of broader efforts to combat online hate speech and defamation.