The UK has witnessed a remarkable story on trending newsfeeds: French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte have filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States against the outspoken American commentator Candace Owens. The legal action centres on Owens’ repeated claims about Brigitte Macron’s identity and has ignited sharp debates from Downing Street to Paris and across digital platforms.
Who Is Candace Owens and Why Is She Trending in the UK?
Candace Owens is an American right-wing politician, media personality, and podcaster married to British businessman George Farmer, son of Baron Michael Farmer, a former Conservative Party treasurer and life peer in the House of Lords. Owens built a reputation for her outspoken views on topics from vaccines to British and American politics. She now hosts her own podcast and boasts millions of followers on social media, often making headlines in the UK for her takes on British political affairs and celebrity culture.
Owens has repeatedly promoted conspiracy theories in connection to Brigitte Macron, leading to widespread attention in British online circles and mainstream media.
The Heart of the Macron Legal Action
French President Emmanuel Macron and his spouse Brigitte filed a 22-count defamation lawsuit in Delaware against Candace Owens. The lawsuit accuses the influencer of waging a campaign of global humiliation and relentless bullying aimed at expanding her podcast audience.
Central to the legal documents are allegations that Owens spread false claims about Brigitte Macron’s background, including suggestions that the French First Lady was born male with the name Jean-Michel Trogneux. The Macrons firmly state these statements are wholly untrue.
Owens has also repeated even more far-fetched claims, including outlandish speculation about the couple’s personal relationship and President Macron’s rise to power. The lawsuit highlights that these repeated narratives caused the First Family of France distress, reputational harm, and emotional pain.
A Pattern of Refusal and Retraction
The Macrons claim they gave Candace Owens many opportunities to retract her statements but she declined each time. Instead, Owens doubled down, producing an eight-part podcast series entitled “Becoming Brigitte,” which broadcast and amplified the disputed claims to her global audience.
Owens is accused of using these claims to gain attention, profit from sensational content, and expand her personal media brand. Attorneys for the Macrons describe the case as a “clear-cut” example of defamation, emphasising the depth of the harm caused by the international reach of such online allegations.
The Stakes: Why This Case Matters in the UK and Beyond
This legal case is especially notable as it involves a sitting head of state launching defamation proceedings in a United States court. Laws in the US set a high bar for public figures to win defamation cases, requiring proof of “actual malice” meaning the statement was made with knowledge of its falsehood or reckless disregard for the truth.
Candace Owens, who remains an influential voice both online and through her links to British figures, has not issued a formal response at the time of writing. Macron’s legal team appears confident, suggesting that the evidence of “malicious intent” is overwhelming.
UK Political Connections: The Owens-Farmer Family Link
Interest in this legal drama is amplified in Britain, not just because of the gravity of the claims but also due to Candace Owens’ direct connections with the UK. Her husband, George Farmer, has deep roots in the UK Conservative Party and British business circles.
Baron Michael Farmer, George’s father, has reportedly distanced himself from some of Owens’ controversial public statements, a detail widely covered in the British media. UK audiences are more familiar with Candace Owens than with many American commentators, so news of the lawsuit resonates strongly.
History of Controversy and Influence
Candace Owens has never shied away from attention. Her previous comments on Covid-19, international politics, and UK issues have often drawn criticism and support from different quarters. She has regularly discussed British political matters, Brexit, and high-profile British figures on her platforms.
This case marks a new level of scrutiny and perhaps risk for public commentators whose reach crosses international boundaries, especially when their claims involve high-ranking European leaders.
Social Media, Podcasts, and the Spread of Claims
Owens’s podcast, social media accounts, and YouTube channels are major sources for her opinions and claims. The podcast series tied to her comments about Brigitte Macron has amassed substantial attention.
With nearly 7 million followers on X and giant audiences for her podcast and YouTube content, Owens wields a level of online influence that is hard to ignore for both UK and global audiences. The new legal scrutiny raises fresh questions about the responsibility of powerful online personalities and the boundaries of free speech.
The Defamation Lawsuit: What Next?
UK audiences, well used to robust public debate and celebrity litigation, are watching closely to see how the case will unfold. While heads of state rarely file individual suits in the US, the Macrons’ legal move may set a precedent for how world leaders respond to online rumours and conspiracy theories.
The legal process could stretch for months, with both sides set to present their arguments. Attorneys for the Macrons say they seek justice and an end to what they call “relentless bullying,” while the outcome will surely echo across both sides of the Atlantic.