As a claim emerged that French President Emmanuel Macron's wife, Brigitte, was born male and is transgender, the presidential couple decided to submit scientific evidence to refute it.
According to the BBC and other foreign media on the 18th (local time), the Macrons' attorney plans to present scientific evidence to a U.S. court proving that Brigitte has been biologically female since birth.
Earlier, U.S. right-wing YouTuber Candace Owens repeatedly claimed that Brigitte was originally born male. She said Brigitte was born a man named "Jean-Michel," later underwent gender transition, and then married Macron. In Mar., she even asserted, "I will stake everything on the fact that Brigitte is a man."
In response, the Macrons filed a defamation lawsuit in a U.S. court in Jul., arguing that Owens continuously spread falsehoods and caused serious harm to their honor and privacy.
The complaint said that "Owens ignored all credible evidence refuting her claims and gave a platform to conspiracy theorists and individuals with proven histories of defamation."
Tom Clare, the Macrons' representative attorney, said in a BBC podcast interview that "Brigitte was immensely offended by these claims."
Clare said, "I cannot disclose the exact details (regarding the evidence), but the presidential couple is prepared to specifically and sufficiently prove that (Owens's) claims are false." He added, "Brigitte will have to go through this process publicly, but she has a firm resolve to do everything to set the record straight."
When asked, "Will you provide photos showing Brigitte pregnant and raising a child as evidence?" Clare answered, "Such photos do exist, and we will present them in court, where rules and standards apply."
Owens's legal team responded by filing a motion to dismiss the Macrons' claims. Owens maintains that she believes her statements are true and that freedom of speech and criticism should be permitted.
Meanwhile, the claim that Brigitte was originally male was first raised in 2021 by French bloggers Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey. The Macrons won a defamation suit they filed against Roy and Rey last year, but lost on appeal this year. The appellate court is reported to have reversed the lower court on the grounds that freedom of expression is important.