French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, have filed a new defamation lawsuit against American conservative commentator Candace Owens in Tennessee, escalating their legal battle over false claims about the French first lady’s gender identity.
The latest lawsuit, filed in Owens’ home state, represents a fresh legal effort by the French presidential couple to hold the far-right podcaster accountable for repeatedly promoting claims that Brigitte Macron is transgender. The allegations, which the Macrons have strongly denied, have featured in multiple episodes of Owens’ podcast, *Candace*.
A representative for the Macrons’ legal team confirmed on Monday that the Tennessee complaint was authentic after the document appeared on legal databases. The filing is dated November 4 and runs to 409 pages, detailing what the couple’s lawyers describe as a sustained campaign of false and defamatory statements.
The new legal action follows an earlier lawsuit filed by the Macrons in July 2025 in Delaware, where Owens’ media companies are registered. That complaint named Owens and two of her business entities, seeking to hold them legally responsible for the publication and distribution of the allegations.
However, a Delaware court last month narrowed the scope of the case, ruling that it had jurisdiction only over Owens’ corporations registered in the state. The decision limited the ability of the Delaware proceedings to address claims directly against Owens as an individual, prompting the latest legal move in Tennessee.
In the new complaint, the Macrons’ lawyers provide further details of what they characterize as Owens’ repeated publication of “outlandish, defamatory, and far-fetched fictions” about the French first lady.
The filing also alleges that Owens has financial and ideological motivations for continuing to promote the claims. According to the complaint, her coverage has gone beyond commentary and has become a commercial enterprise built around allegations about the presidential couple.
“She has continued to use her podcast to expand her lies about the Macrons, sell merchandise making fun of the Macrons, and collect donations based on her ‘reporting’ on the Macrons,” the complaint states.
The lawsuit argues that the repeated dissemination of the allegations has caused reputational damage and subjected the French presidential couple to continued public scrutiny. It also places emphasis on the commercial activities associated with Owens’ podcast and media operations, including merchandise sales and fundraising connected to her claims.
Owens, a prominent conservative political commentator and podcast host, has built a substantial online audience through commentary on American politics, culture and international affairs. Her allegations concerning Brigitte Macron have attracted significant attention on social media and generated an international controversy involving the French president’s family.
The dispute has also highlighted the challenges public figures face in responding to allegations circulated through digital media platforms, where podcasts, video clips and social media posts can reach millions of people across national borders.
The Macrons’ decision to pursue legal action in the United States reflects the complexity of bringing defamation claims against media personalities and businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions. The Delaware proceedings and the new Tennessee complaint involve different jurisdictional considerations, particularly because Owens’ companies are registered in Delaware while she is based in Tennessee.
A representative for Owens did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest lawsuit.
The Tennessee case adds another chapter to the increasingly high-profile legal confrontation between the French presidential couple and the American podcaster. It also raises broader questions about the legal responsibilities of online commentators, the limits of free speech and the distinction between political opinion and statements presented as factual allegations.
