Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte will provide “scientific and photographic evidence” that she is a woman at her defamation trial against far-right American podcaster Candace Owens.
Tom Clare, a lawyer acting for the Macrons, said the couple were ready to prove “generally and specifically” that Owens’ allegations that Mrs Macron was born male were false.
Owens began spreading absurd conspiracy theories about Mrs Macron’s gender identity in 2024 in YouTube videos and podcast episodes that have accrued millions of views. She has stated that she will stake her “entire professional reputation” on her belief that Mrs Macron “is in fact a man”.
The Macrons filed a defamation lawsuit in a court in Delaware in July, accusing Owens of spreading “outlandish, defamatory, and far-fetched” lies that have triggered a “campaign of global humiliation” and “relentless bullying”.
Mr Clare told the BBC’s Fame Under Fire podcast that the court would be provided “expert testimony” that would be “scientific in nature”. He did not elaborate on what evidence might be given at the trial.
Despite the looming legal action, Owens doubled down on her baseless claim in an interview in July in which she alleged that Mrs Macron’s death would be faked before the case reached the discovery phase.
Mr Clare said that Mrs Macron has found the allegations “incredibly upsetting”, while her husband has found them a “distraction” from his duties.
“I don’t want to suggest that it somehow has thrown him off his game. But just like anybody who is juggling a career and a family life as well, when your family is under attack, it wears on you. And he’s not immune from that because he’s the president of a country,” he said.
“It is incredibly upsetting to think that you have to go and subject yourself, to put this type of proof forward.”
Mr Clare said Mrs Macron was determined to “set the record straight” in public.
“It is a process that she will have to subject herself to in a very public way. But she’s willing to do it.”
He added: “If that unpleasantness and that discomfort that she has of opening herself up in that way is what it takes to set a record straight and stop this, she’s 100% ready to meet that burden.”
The Independent has contacted Owens for comment.
In a YouTube video posted by Owens in response to the 219-page defamation complaint, she claimed that she had provided Mr and Mrs Macron with multiple opportunities to offer proof and comment against her claims – but had received no response.
Mrs Macron was awarded £6,750 ($9,149) in damages last year after two right-wing influencers, Anandine Roy and Natacha Rey, accused her of being a transgender woman. They were also ordered to pay damages to her brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux, who they alleged had assumed the identity of Brigitte.
