France, July 10 -- A French appeals court Thursday overturned convictions against two women accused of libel against French First Lady Brigitte Macron, after they spread false claims she used to be a man that reached the United States.

Disinformation on Macron's gender has circulated on social media for years. She has also been attacked over the 24-year age difference with President Emmanuel Macron.

The 72-year-old first lady, whose maiden name is Trogneux, has a brother called Jean-Michel.

Brigitte Macron filed a libel complaint against two women after they posted a YouTube video in December 2021, alleging she had once been a man named Jean-Michel.

In the video, defendant Amandine Roy, a self-proclaimed spiritual medium, interviewed ...