Brigitte Macron is taking her defamation case to France’s highest court after a Paris appeals court overturned convictions against two women who falsely claimed she was born male.

Brigitte Macron is continuing her determined legal pursuit against two women who falsely alleged that she was born male. Refusing to be silenced by the latest court decision, the French first lady has made it clear that she intends to fight the defamatory claims to the very end.

This legal drama began after a Paris appeals court recently overturned the earlier convictions of the two women accused of spreading the false rumor. The court concluded that the defendants had acted “in good faith” and, on that basis, reversed the ruling that had required them to pay financial damages to Macron. The decision marks a significant twist in a case that has sparked widespread public debate.

Unwilling to accept the verdict, Macron’s legal team announced on Monday that she plans to escalate the matter to France’s highest court of appeals, the Court of Cassation. Her lawyers argue that the damage done to her reputation and private life is too serious to go unchallenged, particularly given the scale and virality of the misinformation campaign.

The dispute centers on a YouTube video published in 2021, in which spiritualist Amandine Roy and freelance journalist Natacha Rey engaged in a lengthy conversation suggesting that Brigitte Macron was once a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux. This name, however, belongs to her real-life brother. The video did not just claim gender-transition surgery, but also delved into personal and intimate details of her life, sparking outrage and raising ethical concerns about online misinformation.

Following the video’s rapid spread on social media, Macron filed a libel lawsuit, accusing the women of defamation and violating her right to privacy. Her legal response was a clear attempt to challenge the increasing trend of conspiracy theories targeting public figures—especially women in political circles.

At 72, Brigitte Macron has often been the subject of bizarre rumors and conspiracy theories, many of them fueled by the 24-year age difference between her and her husband, French President Emmanuel Macron. These theories have ranged from sexist attacks to unfounded speculations, painting her as a frequent target in the polarized world of online disinformation.

Despite the personal toll, she appears resolute in seeking legal accountability and defending her identity and dignity in the public eye.