Since Emmanuel Macron's election in 2017, a false narrative has circulated on social media claiming that Brigitte Macron does not exist and that her brother assumed her identity after a sex change.

This baseless theory was notably promoted in a four-hour YouTube interview in 2021 by Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey, where they made various unfounded claims about Brigitte Macron's identity.

The misinformation gained international traction, particularly among far-right groups in the United States, especially during the presidential campaign.

Brigitte Macron filed a defamation lawsuit on January 31, 2022, after the false claims went viral and ignited conspiracy theories.

The trial, which took place in June 2023, was a response to the extensive online campaign that had gained global attention.

During the trial, Brigitte Macron was absent, but her lawyer emphasized the significant harm caused by the viral false claims.

On September 12, a Paris court ordered Roy and Rey to pay €8,000 in damages to Brigitte Macron and €5,000 to her brother for defamation.

In addition to the damages, the women received a suspended fine of €500 each for their defamatory actions.

Brigitte Macron's lawyer described the ruling as a normal application of the law, highlighting the significant harm caused by the fake news.

Initially, Brigitte Macron chose to ignore the rumors, but later took legal action due to the negative impact on her family.

Coincidentally, on the same day as the court ruling, Brigitte Macron made a surprise appearance as herself in the Netflix series 'Emily in Paris'.

Emmanuel Macron condemned those who believed the rumor, labeling them as 'fadas' (crazy) in March 2024.