Who Is Candace Owens and Why Is French President Macron Suing Her?

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron have filed a lawsuit against American podcaster Candace Owens. The case was submitted in Delaware Superior Court on Wednesday, July 24, 2025.

The reason behind the lawsuit is serious. Owens falsely claimed on her podcast that Brigitte Macron was born male. She said Brigitte’s real name was Jean-Michel Trogneux. That is actually the name of Brigitte’s older brother.

What Did the Lawsuit Say?

According to the complaint, Owens started a “campaign of global humiliation.” It says she did this to gain attention and increase her podcast audience. The Macrons believe Owens has been spreading lies about their personal lives.

The lawsuit says Owens talked badly about the couple’s marriage, their family, and even their friends. It added that her goal was to hurt their reputation.

Repeated Warnings Ignored

The Macrons gave Owens three chances to take back her statements. But she refused. That’s when they decided to take legal action.

In their joint statement, they said: “We gave her every opportunity to back away from these claims, but she refused.”

Owens Responds Strongly

Candace Owens responded the same day on her podcast. She called the lawsuit “a desperate public relations strategy.” She said it was full of mistakes and untrue facts.

Owens added that she had no idea a lawsuit was coming. But reports say lawyers from both sides had been talking since January 2025.

A spokesperson for Owens said this is a move by a foreign leader to silence a U.S. journalist.

“This is a foreign government attacking the First Amendment rights of an American independent journalist,” the spokesperson said.

Why This Matters

This case is big news for many reasons. It raises questions about free speech, defamation laws, and how global leaders deal with online misinformation.

If the court sides with the Macrons, it could change how similar cases are handled in the future.