A Paris court has found ten people guilty of cyber-bullying Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, over a campaign of online harassment targeting her gender, sexuality and personal life.
The defendants—eight men and two women—were convicted of posting degrading and insulting remarks online, including false claims about the first lady’s gender identity and repeated attacks referencing the 24-year age difference between her and the president. The judge ruled that the group acted with a clear intention to cause harm.
Most of those convicted received suspended prison sentences of up to eight months. One defendant was immediately jailed after failing to appear in court, while several others were ordered to have their social media accounts suspended.
Two of the defendants, self-described independent journalist Natacha Rey and online fortune-teller Amandine Roy, had already been convicted in 2024 for slander after alleging that Brigitte Macron had never existed and that her brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux, had changed gender and assumed her identity. That conviction was later overturned on appeal, with judges ruling that claiming someone had changed gender did not necessarily constitute an attack on their honour. The Macrons have since taken that case to France’s highest court of appeal.
Reacting to Monday’s verdict, Brigitte Macron’s lawyer, Jean Ennochi, said the most important outcomes were the preventive measures imposed by the court, including awareness courses and the suspension of some of the perpetrators’ online accounts.
During the trial, Brigitte Macron’s daughter from a previous marriage, Tiphaine Auzière, testified about the impact of the harassment on her mother’s health and daily life. She said the first lady had become extremely cautious about her appearance and behaviour, knowing her image could be manipulated to fuel conspiracy theories. Auzière also highlighted the toll on her own children, who were reportedly mocked at school because of the rumours.
The ruling comes as a precursor to a potentially high-profile legal battle in the United States. The Macrons have filed a defamation lawsuit against right-wing influencer Candace Owens, accusing her of repeatedly promoting conspiracy theories about Brigitte Macron’s gender while ignoring evidence disproving the claims. Owens has publicly stated that she would stake her professional reputation on those assertions.
Initially advised to ignore online gossip to avoid amplifying it, the presidential couple changed strategy last year, concluding that the scale and persistence of the attacks had become too serious to overlook. They decided to pursue legal action, even at the risk of exposing aspects of their private lives in court.
The conspiracy theory alleging that Brigitte Macron is a transgender woman has circulated online since Emmanuel Macron’s first election in 2017. The couple, who met when Brigitte Macron was a teacher at his secondary school, married in 2007, when he was 29 and she was in her mid-50s.
About the author
Le Togo sensibilise au respect du repos biologique
Les autorités togolaises ont intensifié leur campagne de sensibilisation auprès des acteurs du secteur de la pêche en vue du respect du repos biologique, une mesure appliquée dans les pays du Golfe de Guinée pour préserver les ressources halieutiques et favoriser le renouvellement des espèces marines. Lors d'une rencontre organisée le 16 juin 2026, les responsables du secteur ont rappelé l'importance de cette période de suspension temporaire des activités de pêche. L'objectif est de permettre aux poissons de se reproduire et aux jeunes espèces de se développer dans des conditions favorables, contribuant ainsi à la reconstitution des stocks marins. Selon Ali Domitani, directeur de la production halieutique, cette période correspond à une phase cruciale du cycle de vie des espèces aquatiques. Le respect du repos biologique est donc considéré comme une étape essentielle pour garantir la durabilité des ressources marines […]
Le Togo renforce son rôle dans l’aviation africaine
Le Togo poursuit son engagement en faveur de l’intégration du transport aérien africain. À Lomé, les autorités togolaises et la Commission africaine de l’aviation civile (CAFAC) ont conclu, le 17 juin 2026, un accord destiné à accélérer la mise en œuvre du Marché unique du transport aérien africain (MUTAA). Le document a été signé par le ministre des Transports, Komla Loukou-Kadjé, et la secrétaire générale de la CAFAC, Adefunke Adeyemi. La cérémonie s’est déroulée en marge de la Convention et exposition africaines du transport aérien, qui réunit depuis plusieurs jours à Lomé des acteurs du secteur aéronautique venus de différents pays du continent. À travers cet accord, le Togo renforce sa participation aux initiatives africaines visant à développer un espace aérien plus intégré, plus accessible et plus compétitif. L’objectif est de favoriser une meilleure connectivité entre les États africains tout […]
Le Togo engagé pour la protection des océans
Le Togo prend part à la 11ᵉ Conférence des Nations Unies sur les océans, un événement international consacré à la préservation des espaces marins et à la promotion d’une exploitation durable des ressources océaniques. Cette rencontre, qui s’achève le 18 juin 2026, rassemble des délégations venues du monde entier autour des défis liés à l’avenir des océans. Représenté par des responsables des ministères de l’Environnement et de l’Économie maritime, le Togo participe aux travaux organisés sous le thème « Notre océan, notre patrimoine, notre avenir ». Les discussions portent principalement sur les moyens de transformer les engagements internationaux en actions concrètes capables de protéger les écosystèmes marins tout en soutenant le développement durable. Pour les autorités togolaises, cette conférence constitue une occasion importante de mieux comprendre les enjeux mondiaux liés à la conservation des océans et à la gouvernance des […]
Le Togo renforce son engagement pour les océans
Le Togo participe à la 11ᵉ Conférence des Nations Unies sur les océans, un rendez-vous international consacré à la protection des milieux marins et à la promotion d’une gestion durable des ressources océaniques. L’événement réunit jusqu’au 18 juin 2026 des représentants gouvernementaux, des experts et des organisations engagés dans la préservation des écosystèmes marins. La délégation togolaise est composée de responsables issus des ministères de l’Environnement et de l’Économie maritime. Les échanges s’articulent autour du thème : « Notre océan, notre patrimoine, notre avenir », avec un accent particulier sur la mise en œuvre d’actions concrètes pour répondre aux défis environnementaux qui affectent les océans à l’échelle mondiale. À travers sa participation, le Togo souhaite approfondir sa compréhension des enjeux internationaux liés à la conservation des espaces marins et renforcer ses politiques nationales en matière de protection de l’environnement côtier. […]
Faure Gnassingbé séduit les investisseurs à Rome
À Rome, le Togo a mis en avant ses ambitions économiques et logistiques en cherchant à attirer davantage d'investissements européens et moyen-orientaux. À l'occasion du sommet FII Priority Europe 2026, tenu du 17 au 19 juin dans la capitale italienne, le président du Conseil togolais, Faure Gnassingbé, a présenté sa vision d'un partenariat économique fondé sur des investissements de long terme et la construction de systèmes productifs intégrés. S'exprimant devant un parterre de dirigeants politiques, financiers et industriels internationaux, le responsable togolais a plaidé pour une approche qui dépasse le simple financement d'infrastructures individuelles. Selon lui, les investisseurs doivent contribuer à développer des écosystèmes économiques complets capables de générer une croissance durable à l'échelle régionale. Invité par Yasir Al-Rumayyan, gouverneur du Fonds public d'investissement saoudien (PIF) et président du FII Institute, Faure Gnassingbé a profité de cette tribune pour présenter […]
Apple Signals Product Price Hikes Amid Chip Costs
Apple is preparing to increase the prices of some of its products as rising memory chip costs continue to put pressure on the technology giant's manufacturing expenses. The company's outgoing chief executive, Tim Cook, said soaring memory prices have made it increasingly difficult for Apple to absorb higher production costs, describing the current market situation as unsustainable. Although Cook did not specify when the price increases would take effect, nor identify which products could be affected, his comments have fueled speculation that future Apple devices may carry higher price tags. It remains unclear whether the anticipated iPhone 18 lineup, expected later this year, will be impacted. Memory chips play a critical role in smartphones, computers and other electronic devices. However, growing demand for artificial intelligence technologies has significantly increased the need for advanced memory components, pushing prices sharply higher across […]
Related
14-point US-Iran deal to end war
US President Donald Trump has signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran to end hostilities, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and set a roadmap for a comprehensive peace deal that includes lifting all sanctions and unfreezing Iranian assets abroad. The US and Iran, along with their allies in the ongoing conflict, declared an immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, and agreed not to initiate any warfare or military actions against each other. The MOU commits both nations to honor each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, refrain from interference in each other's domestic matters, and negotiate a comprehensive agreement within a maximum of 60 days. Upon signing, the US will begin dismantling its naval blockade against Iran, fully ending the blockade within 30 days, and restore maritime traffic to pre-war levels proportional to […]
Trump defends Iran deal, calls critics ‘fools’
US President Donald Trump has angrily defended his controversial deal with Iran to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, lashing out at opponents and branding critics of the agreement as “fools.” The Trump administration this week unveiled a memorandum of understanding with Tehran that provides for an immediate cessation of military hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, alongside a roadmap for further negotiations. Under the interim deal, the US is set to lift its naval blockade on ships entering and leaving Iran within 30 days, while the Treasury Department will issue waivers on Iranian oil exports and move toward lifting sanctions and unfreezing Iranian assets in foreign accounts. The agreement also opens the door for up to 300 billion dollars in private investment into Iran’s infrastructure sector, as both sides enter a 60‑day window to finalize talks on […]
US-Iran Deal Leaves Key Issues Unresolved
The newly announced memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran has officially taken effect, marking a significant diplomatic step after months of conflict. However, while the agreement restores shipping access through the Strait of Hormuz, many of the most difficult issues remain unresolved and will be the focus of intensive negotiations over the next 60 days. Speaking at the G7 summit in France, US President Donald Trump described the deal as a major achievement and presented it as a breakthrough that could pave the way for a broader peace agreement between Washington and Tehran. Both governments later confirmed that the memorandum had been signed electronically and was now active. Despite the optimism surrounding the announcement, details released by US officials suggest that substantial differences remain between the two sides. One of the central goals of the Trump administration […]
US and Iran Sign Initial Peace Agreement
The United States and Iran have signed a preliminary peace agreement designed to bring an end to the ongoing conflict, with key provisions taking effect immediately. The deal includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a proposed $300 billion reconstruction framework for Iran, and a commitment by Washington to begin lifting all categories of sanctions imposed on Tehran. However, negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme — a central issue behind the conflict — will continue for an initial 60-day period, with the option of extending talks if both sides agree. US President Donald Trump signed the memorandum during the G7 summit in France, describing the agreement as a necessary step to prevent severe global economic disruption. While expressing optimism about the process, Trump warned that military action could resume if the two sides fail to reach a final settlement. Iranian […]
Trump: If you import from third-world countries, you become one
US President Donald Trump has said that any country that imports people from third-world countries will quickly become a third-world country itself, as he defended his administration’s tougher immigration stance. Trump originally wrote on Truth Social, “If you import The Third World, you become The Third World,” and later adjusted the wording to say, “Sadly, if you import people from Third World Countries, you quickly become a Third World Country — and there’s not a thing you can do about it”. He linked this argument to his broader push to tighten migration rules, including plans to “permanently pause” migration from what he calls third-world countries so the US system can “fully recover”. The president has also signalled intentions to remove migrants he considers not a “net asset” to the US and to end federal benefits and subsidies for noncitizens he […]
Trump says Russia should make a deal with Ukraine to end war
US President Donald Trump has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are both open to "do something" about the ongoing war in Ukraine, raising fresh questions about possible diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and advance negotiations. Trump's remarks come as international attention remains focused on prospects for a ceasefire, peace talks, and broader efforts to bring an end to the conflict. While no specific framework or proposal was outlined, the comments have sparked discussion among political observers and foreign policy experts about whether renewed diplomatic momentum could emerge. Trump told reporters that his attention is turning back to Russia and Ukraine after concluding a short-term deal with Iran, and he said the focus will now be on Russia's war in Ukraine. The President's comments suggest both leaders may be willing to pursue a peace agreement, […]