# Macron v. Owens Defamation Lawsuit An ongoing **international defamation case** in Delaware Superior Court in which **Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron** are suing conservative commentator **Candace Owens** over her repeated, public claims that Brigitte Macron was born male — a conspiracy theory Owens promoted through her "Becoming Brigitte" content series. The lawsuit contains **22 counts** of defamation and false light invasion of privacy and represents a significant test of how U.S. defamation law handles **international disinformation campaigns** built for profit. ## Timeline | Date | Development | |------|------------| | **Late 2024** | Owens begins promoting conspiracy theory that Brigitte Macron was born male; launches "Becoming Brigitte" series | | **Nov 2024** | Brigitte Macron files initial defamation complaint in France | | **Feb 2025** | Poll shows 68% of French citizens support Macron's decision to sue | | **Jul 2025** | Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron file **22-count lawsuit** in **Delaware Superior Court** — defamation and false light invasion of privacy | | **Sep 2025** | Owens files **43-page motion to dismiss**, arguing Delaware lacks jurisdiction; calls suit "quintessential libel tourism" | | **Sep 2025** | Owens launches new season of "Becoming Brigitte" despite pending lawsuit; Macrons file **241-page amended complaint** expanding allegations | | **Nov 2025** | Owens claims without evidence that Macrons ordered her assassination | | **Jan 2026** | French court dismisses some claims related to Owens' commentary on Emmanuel Macron's presidency and immigration policy; **primary Brigitte Macron gender defamation claims remain active** | | **Jan 2026** | French court convicts others who spread the same conspiracy about Brigitte Macron (cyberbullying charges) | | **Apr 2026** | **Motion to dismiss still pending**; no U.S. court ruling yet against Owens | ## Key Legal Issues ### Jurisdiction Owens' primary defense is **jurisdictional**: she argues the Macrons sued in Delaware (where Owens' company Owens Media LLC may be incorporated) to avoid: - **France's** three-month statute of limitations for defamation - **Tennessee's** laws (where Owens lives and publishes) - The Macrons' difficulty winning even in France's more plaintiff-friendly defamation system ### First Amendment vs. Defamation Under U.S. law, the Macrons must prove: 1. **Falsity:** The claims about Brigitte Macron are false (Macrons say they are) 2. **Actual malice:** Owens knew the claims were false or showed reckless disregard for truth (the *New York Times v. Sullivan* standard for public figures) 3. **Damages:** The claims caused measurable harm Owens will likely argue the claims are protected opinion or rhetorical hyperbole — though the specificity and repetition of her claims may undermine this defense. ### The Profit Motive The Macrons' complaint emphasizes that Owens monetized the conspiracy theory through: - Subscription content ("Becoming Brigitte" series) - Merchandise and media appearances - Social media engagement and audience growth This is relevant to the "actual malice" question: if Owens promoted claims she knew were false specifically because they were profitable, that goes directly to reckless disregard for truth. ## KB Significance The Macron v. Owens case matters for the KB in several ways: **1. Disinformation as business model:** Owens' "Becoming Brigitte" series exemplifies the pattern documented across the KB's media ecosystem — conspiracy theories as subscription content, audience engagement as revenue, and the financial incentive structure that rewards increasingly extreme claims. **2. Anti-trans conspiracy as political weapon:** The specific claim (that a prominent woman is "actually male") weaponizes transphobia as a tool for political attack — connecting to the KB's documentation of anti-LGBTQ messaging across the right-wing media ecosystem. **3. International legal dimensions:** The case tests whether U.S. defamation law provides any remedy when an American commentator conducts a sustained defamation campaign against a foreign head of state's spouse, and whether "libel tourism" arguments can defeat jurisdiction when the defendant has corporate ties to the forum state. **4. The Owens trajectory:** Candace Owens' evolution from mainstream conservative commentator ([[The Daily Wire]]) to conspiracy promoter mirrors the radicalization trajectory the KB documents for multiple media figures — the financial incentives of the right-wing media ecosystem reward progressively more extreme content. ## Development Log | Date | Development | Source | |------|------------|--------| | **Late 2024** | Owens launches "Becoming Brigitte" conspiracy series | Multiple outlets | | **Nov 2024** | Brigitte Macron files initial complaint in France | French press | | **Jul 2025** | 22-count lawsuit filed in Delaware Superior Court | Clare Locke complaint | | **Sep 2025** | Owens files 43-page motion to dismiss; Macrons file 241-page amended complaint | Court filings | | **Nov 2025** | Owens claims without evidence that Macrons ordered her assassination | Owens media | | **Jan 2026** | French court dismisses some claims; primary gender defamation claims remain active | CS Monitor | | **Jan 2026** | French court convicts others who spread the same conspiracy (cyberbullying) | TIME | | **Apr 2026** | Motion to dismiss still pending; no U.S. court ruling yet | LawFold | | **Apr 21, 2026** | Marc Kasowitz (Owens' lead attorney) files formal notice of withdrawal from the case | Delaware Court Connect | | **Late Apr–May 2026** | Macrons file **amended complaint escalating claims**; motion to dismiss remains pending. No settlement. Key unresolved questions: Delaware jurisdiction and whether the actual-malice standard can be met given Owens' documented profit motive and repetition of claims after being informed of their falsity | Court filings, legal reporting | ## Next Steps to Track - **Delaware motion to dismiss ruling** — pending; Owens still without confirmed lead counsel after Kasowitz withdrawal - **New counsel** — who replaces Kasowitz and whether defense strategy shifts; Owens' legal position weakened by counsel departure - **Amended complaint impact** — escalated claims may strengthen Macrons' position on actual malice - **Discovery phase** — if the case survives dismissal, discovery could expose Owens' knowledge of the claims' falsity - **Potential summary judgment motions** - **Trial date** — if the case proceeds ## See Also - [[Candace Owens]] — Defendant; media trajectory - [[Media Ecosystem]] — The incentive structure that rewards conspiracy content - [[Conspiracy Theories Ecosystem]] — Pattern of conspiracy-as-business