Paris Court Convicts 10 in Cyberbullying Case Targeting Brigitte Macron

 

French President's wife Brigitte Macron arrives ahead of the ceremony outside 'La Belle Equipe' bar, Nov. 13, 2025 in Paris.

A Paris court has convicted ten people for cyberbullying France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron, in a case that has drawn national attention to the growing problem of online harassment. The group—eight men and two women—were found guilty of spreading false claims about Macron’s gender identity and posting messages the court described as degrading and malicious.

The defamatory rumors, which circulated widely on social media, alleged that Macron was born male. As the claims gained traction, they caused significant distress to the Macron family and prompted the first lady to pursue legal action to push back against the spread of online abuse.

Sentences handed down by the court ranged from mandatory training on the dangers of cyberbullying to suspended prison terms of up to eight months. Macron did not attend the trial, but her daughter testified about the emotional toll the harassment had taken, describing a clear deterioration in her mother’s daily life as the rumors spread.

The ruling is being viewed as a notable step in France’s efforts to combat digital harassment and hold individuals accountable for weaponizing social media against public figures.