10 Found Guilty Of Cyberbullying Brigitte Macron, Paris Court Denies Satire Excuse

Paris court convicts 10 for cyberbullying Brigitte Macron over false claims about gender and online harassment.

By : Ritwik Dutta | Updated at : 05 Jan 2026 07:53 PM (IST)

Paris-court-convicts-10-brigitte-macron-cyberbullying 10 Found Guilty Of Cyberbullying Brigitte Macron, Paris Court Denies Satire Excuse

Some defendants had argued their comments were satire, a claim the court rejected.

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A Paris court on Monday found 10 individuals guilty of cyberbullying France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron, over false claims about her gender and sexuality. Among the convicted, one received a six-month jail term without suspension, while the others were handed suspended sentences ranging up to eight months. The court also imposed fines, mandatory cyber harassment courses, and social media bans on five defendants.

Macron Fights Online Harassment, Slander

The accused had spread rumours claiming Brigitte Macron was born a man, using her age gap with President Emmanuel Macron—24 years—as a pretext for slander, referring to it as “paedophilia.” In her statement to TF1, Brigitte Macron defended her legal action, saying the attacks included individuals hacking her tax website and misrepresenting her identity. She said her fight was meant to set an example for adolescents facing harassment online.

Court Rejects Satire Defense

Eight of the convicted are men, and two are women. Some defendants had argued their comments were satire, a claim the court rejected. Bertrand Scholler, 55, who received a six-month suspended jail sentence, announced plans to appeal, calling the ruling “abominable” and warning that freedom of speech was under threat. The case mirrors a broader transatlantic debate over online speech, coming amid efforts by European countries to curb disinformation and the Trump administration’s criticism of such measures as censorship.

The ruling also coincides with a separate US case involving controversial podcaster Candace Owens, who made similar claims against the French First Lady.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the outcome of the cyberbullying case against Brigitte Macron?

Ten individuals were found guilty of cyberbullying Brigitte Macron. Sentences included jail time, fines, and mandatory cyber harassment courses.

What false claims were spread about Brigitte Macron?

The accused spread rumors claiming Brigitte Macron was born a man and used her age gap with the President as a pretext for slander.

Why did Brigitte Macron decide to take legal action?

Brigitte Macron stated the attacks included hacking her tax website and misrepresenting her identity. She aimed to set an example for adolescents facing online harassment.

What was the court's stance on the defendants' claims of satire?

The court rejected the argument that the comments were satire, finding the defendants guilty of cyberbullying.

About the author Ritwik Dutta

Ritwik Dutta is a Senior Copy Editor at ABP Live English, who blends an engineer’s precision with a reporter’s instinct. With a background in data and analytics, he delivers evidence-driven, real-time coverage of key national and global developments, breaking down complex subjects into clear, engaging stories that make information more accessible and strengthen public understanding.

For tips and queries, write to ritwikd@abpnetwork.com.