Overview

• Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron lodged their suit in Delaware Superior Court on July 23 seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages after Owens refused three retraction requests.
• The complaint alleges that Owens spread a conspiracy through her eight-part “Becoming Brigitte” podcast claiming the first lady was born male under her brother’s name.
• Under U.S. law the Macrons must demonstrate that Owens acted with actual malice by knowing her statements were false or showing reckless disregard for the truth.
• Owens has dismissed the lawsuit as a press stunt and defended her claims despite millions of views on her podcast and related social media posts.
• Parallel defamation proceedings over similar gender-identity rumors continue in France’s courts following an appellate acquittal earlier this month.