Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, have filed a 22-count defamation lawsuit in the United States against right-wing podcaster Candace Owens over the ‘bizarre’ claim that Brigitte could be a man.
The lawsuit filed yesterday in Delaware Superior Court alleges Owens has broadcast “a relentless year-long campaign of defamation against the Macrons”, according to a statement from Tom Clare, the Macrons’ lawyer.
Conservative commentator Candace Owens revived an absurd conspiracy theory in March with a YouTube video titled “Is France’s First Lady a Man?” according to the complaint, reports CNN.
Since then, Owens has produced numerous videos about Brigitte Macron for her nearly 4.5 million YouTube subscribers, including a multi-part series called “Becoming Brigitte.”
The lawsuit further claims she has also sold merchandise promoting the claim.
Owens also posted a screenshot on Instagram of an article referencing the Macrons’ lawsuit and a picture of the couple with the caption: “I will be coming for this wig today. Stay tuned.”
She later posted a video on YouTube saying the lawsuit was “an obvious and desperate public relations strategy.”
The Macrons are seeking punitive damages against Owens and her business entities for 22 counts of
defamation, false light, and defamation by implication, the statement said.
