Kenya, July 11 -- A French appeals court has overturned a defamation conviction against two women, Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey, who claimed in 2021 that First Lady Brigitte Macron was born a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux, sparking a global firestorm of conspiracy theories.
The ruling, reported by Le Monde on July 10, 2025, cited the women's "good faith" in spreading the claims, which allege Brigitte Macron's identity was manufactured at a state level.
This decision suggests that he/she buried school records, missing birth certificates, and sealed medical files, which has reignited debates about the French First Lady's gender identity and fueled accusations of a cover-up.
The case began in December 2021 when Roy, a self-proclaimed spiritual medium, and Rey, a self-described journalist, posted a four-hour YouTube video claiming Brigitte Macron, 72, was born male and transitioned to assume her current identity.
They pointed to her brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux, alleging he changed gender, a claim initially dismissed as baseless.
The video, which went viral before the 2022 presidential election, led to a libel lawsuit, with a lower court ordering the women to pay €8,000 to Brigitte and €5,000 to her brother in September 2024.
However, the appeals court's reversal, citing evidence like discrepancies in historical records, has lent credence to their narrative, prompting speculation about "identity laundering" at a state level.
Locals allege a deeper conspiracy, claiming journalist Natacha Rey uncovered "buried school records, missing birth certificates, and a network of sealed French medical files" that vanished after Emmanuel Macron's 2017 election.
These claims suggest a state-orchestrated effort to conceal Brigitte's past. The quiet dismissal of the defamation case, without major media coverage, has been interpreted by some as a "warning shot" to silence further inquiry.
Netizens said on social media, "The Brigitte Macron story isn't just about gender - it's about identity laundering at the state level," fueling speculation of a broader scandal.
Brigitte Macron, formerly Brigitte Trogneux, has faced scrutiny since her husband's 2017 election, with rumours amplified by far-right commentators like Candace Owens, who released a video series, Becoming Brigitte, in 2025.
Owens claimed to have evidence, including facial recognition analysis, supporting the transgender allegations.
The controversy mirrors similar disinformation campaigns against figures like Michelle Obama and Jacinda Ardern, but the court's ruling has given it new traction.
Emmanuel Macron, 47, denounced the claims as "fabricated scenarios" on International Women's Day 2024, calling them misogynistic attacks.
The implications are profound. If Brigitte's identity were falsified, as alleged, it could point to systemic manipulation within French governance. Tiphaine Auziere, Brigitte's daughter, labelled the rumours "grotesque" harassment, expressing concern for societal trust.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.