Beyond the Macrons’ lawsuit: Why do people accuse powerful women of being men?

July 28, 2025

French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron have filed a defamation lawsuit against conservative commentator Candace Owens for repeatedly claiming that Brigitte was born a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux (who is actually her brother). Despite the lawsuit, Owens has doubled down on her false claims, even releasing an eight-part podcast series called "Becoming Brigitte" after the Macrons requested a retraction. This case represents a broader trend of gender-focused conspiracy theories targeting prominent women in politics and culture, including Michelle Obama and Kamala Harris, which experts attribute to these women's influence, perceived left-leaning politics, and breaking of traditional gender stereotypes.

Who is affected

Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron who have experienced "relentless bullying on a worldwide scale"
Candace Owens who is facing a defamation lawsuit
Other prominent women targeted by similar conspiracy theories, including Michelle Obama, Kamala Harris, and Brittney Griner
Transgender people who face increased discrimination and suspicion due to this type of rhetoric

What action is being taken

Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron are pursuing a defamation lawsuit against Candace Owens
Candace Owens is continuing to promote her false claims through her independent platform and an eight-part podcast series titled "Becoming Brigitte"
Republicans are running political advertisements in 2024 focusing on transgender people, particularly trans women in sports
Researchers and experts are analyzing and explaining the phenomenon of "transvestigating" as a form of online hate

Why it matters

The conspiracy theories represent a wider trend targeting influential women who break gender stereotypes
These attacks occur alongside increasing anti-transgender rhetoric and restrictive policies
The practice of "transvestigating" has become a common attack method described by GLAAD as "an example of anti-LGBTQ online hate and disinformation"
According to experts, these narratives attempt to limit "the spectrum of what women can look like, do, and how they participate in society"
The attacks are rooted in transphobia and, in some cases, racism

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

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