Macron slams recurrent rumors about wife’s gender

Baseless conspiracy theorists have claimed that Brigitte Macron was born male under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux

French President Emmanuel Macron recently condemned a baseless conspiracy theory claiming his wife, Brigitte, aged 70, is transgender. On International Women's Day, while discussing the constitutional enshrinement of abortion rights in France, Macron highlighted the dangers of such unfounded rumors, emphasizing the distress caused by fabricated information invading personal lives. He pointed out that the allegations against his wife are emblematic of the misogynistic harassment women face online.

The origin of this groundless speculation traces back to 2021, initiated by an independent journalist and a self-described spiritual medium through social media and YouTube, misleadingly using the hashtag #JeanMichelTrogneux. This reference, mistakenly attributed to Brigitte Macron, actually belongs to her brother, showcasing the falsehood at the heart of these claims.

In response to these attacks, Brigitte Macron and her brother took legal action against the individuals spreading these falsehoods, leading to modest fines for the accused in 2022. Despite the personal nature of the attacks, the Macrons' relationship has been under scrutiny due to their age difference and Brigitte's role as Emmanuel's high school literature teacher. The couple, married since 2007, has navigated these challenges while maintaining a united front. Brigitte Macron has three children and seven grandchildren from a previous marriage, further discrediting the conspiracy theory's baseless claims.