Ten on trial in Paris over online harassment of Brigitte Macron

Ten people went on trial in Paris on Monday, accused of orchestrating a campaign of online harassment against France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron, by circulating false claims that she was born male and had assumed her brother’s identity. The eight men and two women, aged between 41 and 60, are charged with sexist cyberharassment and face up to two years in prison if convicted, prosecutors said.

Paris prosecutors allege the defendants posted malicious comments about the first lady’s gender and sexuality and compared her 24 year age gap with President Emmanuel Macron to paedophilia. The case stems from a complaint Brigitte Macron filed on August 27, 2024 that prompted police investigations and arrests in December 2024 and February 2025. The accused have denied wrongdoing.

Among those on trial is 41 year old advertising executive Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, who used the online alias Zoé Sagan. Another defendant, identified as Delphine J and known online as Amandine Roy, is a self-described medium and commentator who played a prominent role in spreading the allegation that the first lady was actually her brother Jean-Michel Trogneux. Roy and an independent blogger were previously...