What's happened
Brigitte Macron has won a libel case against two women who falsely claimed she was transgender. A Paris court ordered the defendants to pay €8,000 in damages after their conspiracy theory video went viral, impacting Macron's family and public image. The ruling highlights the dangers of misinformation in the digital age.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, the court ordered the defendants to pay €8,000 to Brigitte Macron and €5,000 to her brother for damages, emphasizing the legal ramifications of their false claims. Politico noted that the misinformation spread beyond France, amplified by far-right figures, illustrating the global reach of such conspiracy theories. The Independent highlighted Macron's personal response to the allegations, stating that she initially ignored them but later addressed them due to their impact on her family. This multifaceted coverage illustrates the significant implications of the ruling on both a personal and societal level.
How we got here
The controversy began in December 2021 when Amandine Roy and Natacha Rey posted a YouTube video alleging that Brigitte Macron was born as Jean-Michel Trogneux. The claims gained traction online, particularly among far-right groups, leading Macron to file a libel complaint.
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