Tiphaine Auzière, daughter of Brigitte Macron, arriving at the Paris courthouse on October 28, 2025. CHRISTOPHE ENA / AP
From behind, it's hard to tell them apart. The men who appeared before the 10th criminal chamber of the Paris court on Monday, October 27, and Tuesday, October 28, could easily be mistaken for one another, with their graying temples and dark clothing. They had the unremarkable look of their professions – IT specialist, sports teacher or mortgage broker – and are all aged between 41 and 65. Whether from Paris or elsewhere in France, these men share the same pastime behind the anonymity of social media: spreading the conspiracy theory that Brigitte Macron is a transgender woman − fake news that has gained international traction.
One described the president's wife on X (formerly Twitter) as her husband's "ballsy partner." Another called her an "old monkey" with "inflatable boobs." "Who doubts Brigitte's dick?" a third wondered – without considering that such a message could land him in court.
At the end of August 2024, Brigitte Macron filed a complaint for cyberharassment after enduring a wave of mockery and insults following the publication of a photo of her in a swimsuit. Investigators from the French national online hate crimes unit, in charge of the inquiry, identified 10 profiles – "the most virulent," according to a police report – among the thousands of people who participated in the smear campaign. Seven of the 10 defendants were present in court.
