French President Emmanuel Macron has initiated legal action against American right-wing podcaster Candace Owens, alleging defamation due to a persistent and baseless smear campaign against him and his wife, Brigitte Macron. The lawsuit, encompassing 219 pages and filed in a Delaware court, accuses Owens of propagating conspiracy theories, particularly centered around Brigitte Macron, whom Owens has claimed is a secret trans woman and a blood relative of her husband.
The court documents assert that Owens has crafted a “grotesque narrative” aimed at boosting her audience through the spread of disinformation. This isn’t the first time Owens has faced criticism for her controversial statements; she has previously been accused of downplaying historical atrocities, such as the Holocaust. In a continuation of her claims, Owens has also suggested that President Macron operates as a CIA agent.
The lawsuit highlights the toll that Owens’s actions have taken on the Macron family, describing it as a “campaign of global humiliation” that turns their personal lives into targets for profit-driven falsehoods. It notes the emotional distress caused by the belief in these fabrications, stating that the Macrons face bullying and invasion of privacy publicly every time they leave their residence.
The Macrons are represented by the law firms Farnan LLP and Clare Locke LLP in this legal matter. As of now, Owens has not publicly responded to the lawsuit, nor has she made an appearance in court related to the case.
This legal challenge not only emphasizes the impact of misinformation on public figures but also ignites discussions about the responsibilities of content creators in the digital age. Such cases can serve as important reminders of the potential consequences associated with the spread of false narratives.