Macrons sue US commentator over claims that French President's wife is a ‘man'
According to the lawsuit, Owens has repeatedly claimed that Brigitte Macron is a man and alleged that Emmanuel Macron is under the control of the CIA. The Macrons say Owens has used these fabrications to grow her media platform and monetise attention, including through an eight-part podcast series titled Becoming Brigitte.
'These outlandish, defamatory, and far-fetched fictions included that Mrs Macron was born a man, stole another person's identity, and transitioned to become Brigitte; Mrs Macron and President Macron are blood relatives committing incest; President Macron was chosen to be the President of France as part of the CIA-operated MKUltra program or a similar mind-control program; and Mrs Macron and President Macron are committing forgery, fraud, and abuses of power to conceal these secrets,' the lawsuit says, The Guardian reported.
The Macrons said they had sent multiple retraction demands with evidence disproving the claims, but Owens responded by mocking them and intensifying her attacks.
'Because Ms Owens systematically reaffirmed these falsehoods in response to each of our attorneys' repeated requests for a retraction, we ultimately concluded that referring the matter to a court of law was the only remaining avenue,' the couple said in a statement as quoted by The Guardian. 'It is our earnest hope that this lawsuit will set the record straight and end this campaign of defamation once and for all.'
The lawsuit says the campaign has subjected the Macrons to global humiliation and 'relentless bullying,' causing reputational damage and forcing them to spend 'considerable sums' to correct the public record.
The couple is represented by the law firm Clare Locke, known for its role in the Dominion Voting Systems case against Fox News. According to The Financial Times, the Macrons are prepared to appear in a Delaware court for trial.
Owens has not yet commented publicly on the lawsuit.
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