Ten people have been found guilty of cyber-bullying Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, by a Paris court.
The defendants were accused of spreading false claims about her gender and sexuality, as well as making 'malicious remarks' about the 24-year age gap between the couple.
Most of the defendants received suspended prison sentences of up to eight months; however, one was jailed immediately for failing to attend court. Some also faced suspension of their social media accounts.
The judge stated that the eight men and two women had acted with a clear intent to harm Brigitte Macron, making degrading and insulting remarks online.
Two defendants, self-styled independent journalist Natacha Rey and internet fortune-teller Amandine Roy, had previously been convicted of slander for claiming that the first lady had never existed. They alleged that her brother had changed gender and adopted her name, but were later cleared on appeal. The court emphasized this claim did not necessarily constitute an attack on her honor.
The Macrons are now appealing this ruling to the high court.
'The most important aspects are the preventive courses and the suspension of some of the accounts,' stated Jean Ennochi, Brigitte Macron's lawyer, after the verdict was announced.
Brigitte Macron's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified that the cyber-bullying significantly impacted her mother's health and living conditions, detailing the stress it placed on her family and the resulting effects on her grandchildren.
The ruling reflects a broader context, as the Macrons are also pursuing a defamation lawsuit against US right-wing influencer Candace Owens, who has propagated similar conspiracy theories about Brigitte Macron.
Initially advised to ignore the online attacks, the Macrons reversed their stance, recognizing that the level of harassment warranted legal action.
The conspiracy theory alleging Brigitte Macron is a transgender woman has circulated since 2017, when the couple married. They first met when she was a teacher at his secondary school. The couple's age gap has often been a point of contention in public discourse.
