By Jane Nwandibe
Entertainment Deputy Editor
Conservative American commentator Candace Owens has issued a defiant response to French President Emmanuel Macron, following reports that the French leader has filed a defamation lawsuit over Owens’ repeated claims that Brigitte Macron, the First Lady of France, was born male.
In a fiery video posted to her social media accounts, Owens doubled down on her assertion, stating bluntly: “You were born a man, you will die a man.” The comment, addressed to Brigitte Macron but indirectly aimed at the French President and the legal actions being pursued, has ignited a global media storm and further intensified the already controversial dispute.
Owens, known for her outspoken views and combative political commentary, dismissed the lawsuit as an attack on free speech. “This isn’t about defamation,” she claimed. “It’s about controlling narratives and silencing anyone who dares question the elite class, especially in Europe where freedom of speech is apparently conditional.”
The legal action by President Macron reportedly stems from Owens’ public statements, which have resurfaced old internet conspiracy theories alleging that Brigitte Macron was born male and transitioned to female—claims that French authorities and media have strongly debunked as false, defamatory, and rooted in disinformation.
Owens, however, remains unapologetic. She told her followers: “Facts don’t care about your feelings. If the First Lady of France is so confident in her truth, why sue over speech? Why not disprove it once and for all?”
The French President’s legal team has not issued a formal public statement in response to Owens’ latest remarks, but legal analysts in France note that defamation laws in the country are stricter than those in the United States and can carry criminal penalties, particularly when the content is deemed harmful to private individuals or institutions.
Political observers say the international nature of the case, involving a U.S. citizen and a European head of state, could raise complex jurisdictional questions and reignite the ongoing debate over global limits to online speech and disinformation.
Meanwhile, reactions remain polarized. Owens’ supporters hail her stance as bold and principled, while critics accuse her of trafficking in baseless conspiracies and promoting harmful rhetoric under the guise of political commentary.
As legal proceedings begin to unfold, the standoff between Owens and the French presidency may have far-reaching implications—not just for the individuals involved, but for the broader tension between free expression and reputational protection in the digital age.
