Overview
- The Paris criminal court found eight men and two women guilty of targeting Brigitte Macron with false claims about her gender and insinuations tied to pedophilia.
- Sentences generally ranged from four to eight months with most terms suspended, included at least one six-month prison term, and imposed mandatory anti-harassment training and temporary social media restrictions, along with financial penalties.
- Among those identified as key instigators were Delphine Jegousse, known as Amandine Roy, and writer Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, known online as Zoé Sagan, who received the heaviest sanctions after widely amplifying the rumor, including in a four-hour 2021 video.
- Brigitte Macron did not attend the two-day October trial, saying she launched the case to set an example, while her daughter Tiphaine Auzière testified about the toll on the family, including the grandchildren.
- Prosecutors had sought tougher penalties and distinguished instigators from followers, as the Macron family pursues related actions abroad, including a U.S. case linked to influencer Candace Owens.