For nearly a decade, Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron’s relationship has fascinated and divided people in France and beyond.
Their 25-year age gap, their unconventional beginnings, and their bond that has lasted through politics, power, and scandal have been endlessly debated.
But in recent years, curiosity about their private life has shifted into something darker—an international conspiracy theory targeting Brigitte herself.
From Teacher and Student to France’s First Couple
Brigitte, now 72, first met Emmanuel Macron in the 1990s while teaching drama at a Catholic school in Amiens.
He was just 15, she was 39, married with three children, and already living a full adult life.
Despite interventions from Emmanuel’s family, their bond endured.
By 2007, after Brigitte divorced her first husband, she and Emmanuel married.
When he became president in 2017, their relationship was thrust into the spotlight, with critics labeling it everything from progressive to scandalous.
The Birth of a Conspiracy
The real trouble began in 2021, when a small far-right French magazine published an article claiming—without evidence—that Brigitte Macron had been born male.
The story cited distorted family photos, false assumptions about her appearance, and wild claims that her late first husband had never existed.
Soon, YouTube interviews spread the rumor further, giving it an online life of its own.
Brigitte Speaks Out
By 2021, the rumor had gained so much traction that Brigitte addressed it during a French radio interview about bullying.
Refusing to stay silent, she later filed lawsuits against those who spread the claims.
While some courts ruled in her favor, conspiracy theorists refused to let go, keeping the false narrative alive online.
Candace Owens Fans the Flames
What was once a fringe theory in France caught fire internationally when American commentator Candace Owens revived it in 2023.
With millions of followers, Owens dedicated entire podcasts and videos to the baseless claim that Brigitte was born male.
She even went as far as selling T-shirts mocking France’s first lady.
The Macrons, pushed to their limit, filed a major defamation lawsuit against Owens in the U.S. earlier this year.
Fighting in Court
In their 218-page lawsuit, the Macrons accused Owens of spreading “outlandish, defamatory, and far-fetched fictions.”
They are demanding damages, saying the lies have caused “global humiliation.” Under U.S. law, they must prove that Owens acted with “actual malice,” knowingly spreading falsehoods for attention and profit.
The Toll on the Macrons
Behind the political theater, the personal toll has been heavy.
Brigitte has reportedly been devastated by the idea that she may need to present “scientific” proof of her biological sex to counter the claims.
Emmanuel Macron has publicly expressed frustration, saying that fabricated stories invade their most intimate spaces and distract from serious matters of state.
A Relationship Always Under the Microscope
This isn’t the first time the Macrons’ private life has been pulled apart by public opinion.
From their early romance, which many criticized as inappropriate, to their highly visible marriage, every aspect of their relationship has been examined, doubted, or debated.
Even a heated public argument between the two earlier this year drew headlines worldwide.
What Comes Next
As the lawsuit in Delaware moves forward, it could either finally put the conspiracy to rest or give it new oxygen on the global stage.
For Brigitte, who once described her early romance with Emmanuel as “crippling” because of the judgment it attracted, the scrutiny has never truly ended.
What remains clear is that France’s most famous couple continues to live under a microscope—admired by some, targeted by others, but always in the spotlight.