Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron sue US influencer Candace Owens for defamation
The 218-page complaint against Candace Owens, who has millions of followers on X and YouTube, was filed by the Macrons in Delaware Superior Court and seeks a jury trial and unspecified punitive damages.
In a statement released by their lawyer, the Macrons said they filed the lawsuit after Owens repeatedly ignored requests to retract false and defamatory statements made on an eight-part YouTube and podcast series called "Becoming Brigitte."
"Owens' campaign of defamation was plainly designed to harass and cause pain to us and our families and to garner attention and notoriety," they said.
"We gave her every opportunity to back away from these claims, but she refused.
"It is our earnest hope that this lawsuit will set the record straight and end this campaign of defamation once and for all."
The suit accuses Owens of using her popular podcast to spread "verifiably false and devastating lies" about the Macrons including that Brigitte Macron was born a man, that they are blood relatives and that Macron was chosen to be France's president as part of a CIA-operated mind control program.
"If ever there was a clear-cut case of defamation, this is it," Tom Clare, a lawyer for the Macrons, said in a statement.
"Owens both promoted and expanded on those falsehoods and invented new ones, all designed to cause maximum harm to the Macrons and maximise attention and financial gain for herself."
Brigitte Macron, 72, has also taken to the courts in France to combat claims she was born a man.
Two women were convicted in September of last year of spreading false claims after they posted a YouTube video in December 2021 alleging that Brigitte Macron had once been a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux -- who is actually her brother.
The ruling was overturned by a Paris appeals court and Macron appealed to the highest appeals court, the Court de Cassation, earlier this month.
AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
Barnaby Joyce warns future generations facing China ‘threat'
Nationals maverick Barnaby Joyce says Australia's approach to defence is 'putting the future of your children and grandchildren at threat' amid fears over China's military build-up and aggression toward Taiwan. The warning comes as Talisman Sabre, Australia's biggest war-games, reaches its tail end. Some 35,000 troops from 19 of the country's allies are taking part in the military exercises — drills Taiwan is pushing to be part of in the future. Mr Joyce, a former deputy prime minister, said on Monday Australia's 'strategic ambiguity' on Taiwan must be 'backed up with incredible strength'. 'There's not multiple rules-based orders in the world — there's one,' he told Seven's Sunrise, citing French President Emmanuel Macron. 'If a country wants to be outside that by just taking the South China Sea, by what we've seen with journalists in Hong Kong just (being) taken off the street, with tennis players who disappear if they say the wrong thing. 'We've had a massive build-up of (China's) armed capacity, including their nuclear capacity, and no real explanation as to why and (Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong) brought that to our attention lately.' Mr Joyce went on to say the 'Australian people really haven't grasped exactly what's before us'. 'We need to become as strong as possible as quickly as possible,' he said. 'We really are putting the future of your children and grandchildren at threat. 'China does not believe in a democratic world order. 'They believe in an alternate order that does not include democracy and ultimately … where we lie in that, if we don't get this right, is as a vassal state. 'You will be dominated by economically, socially in your media, by a totalitarian regime.' Adding that Australia is 'not as strong as we should be at the moment', Mr Joyce said the answer was working with allies to bolster collective defence. Bringing Taiwan into the fold would mean Australia needs to 'look like you are strong enough to back yourself in'.
News.com.au
15 hours ago
- News.com.au
Donald Trump claims Beyonce, Oprah broke law in Harris endorsement deal
Beyonce. Oprah Winfrey. Kamala Harris. US President Donald Trump has taken aim at the trio of influential women, saying they 'should be prosecuted' during a stunning late-night rant. Mr Trump took to Truth Social to unleash in a major way, posting the rant at 7.45pm Scotland time, where he is currently on a weekend golfing trip. Mr Trump alleged that Beyonce never sang despite being paid USD$11 (AUD$16) million to endorse Mrs Harris before her speech at a campaign rally in Houston, Texas. Mr Trump also highlighted amounts allegedly paid to talk show host Oprah and TV personality Reverend Al Sharpton. He also said the large amount of money spent by his Democratic opponents during the 2024 election will be reviewed, and that payment was 'probably illegally' made. 'I'm looking at the large amount of money owed by the Democrats, after the Presidential Election, and the fact that they admit to paying, probably illegally, Eleven Million Dollars to singer Beyoncé for an ENDORSEMENT (she never sang, not one note, and left the stage to a booing and angry audience!), Three Million Dollars for 'expenses', to Oprah, Six Hundred Thousand Dollars to very low rated TV 'anchor', Al Sharpton (a total lightweight!), and others to be named for doing, absolutely nothing!', Mr Trump posted on Truth Social. 'These ridiculous fees were incorrectly stated in the books and records. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PAY FOR AN ENDORSEMENT. IT IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL TO DO SO. 'Can you imagine what would happen if politicians started paying for people to endorse them. All hell would break out! Kamala, and all of those that received Endorsement money, BROKE THE LAW.' He continued: 'They should all be prosecuted! Thank you for your attention to this matter.' However, there's no evidence that those named in Mr Trump's post received payment for their endorsement by the Democratic campaign. Oprah previously said she 'was not paid a dime' for the appearance, however 'the people who worked on that production needed to be paid. And were. End of story'. The Harris campaign has also denied making any endorsement payment for Beyonce. Mr Trump has made similar allegations previously. In December, he wrote that 'Beyoncé didn't sing, Oprah didn't do much of anything (she called it 'expenses') and Al is just a third-rate conman'. He's also no stranger to using legal threats. Beyonce and Oprah aren't the only celebrities Mr Trump has criticised. Earlier this week, he addressed CBS' shocking decision to cancel The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, seemingly suggesting that other late night hosts should get a similar treatment. Of particular focus was his longtime critic, Jimmy Kimmel. 'I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings,' Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. 'I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!' Mr Kimmel and Mr Trump have reportedly been feuding for years. When Mr Trump won the presidency in 2024, Mr Kimmel called it a 'terrible night' for democracy and announced he was on Trump's 'list of enemies'.
News.com.au
15 hours ago
- News.com.au
Trump, EU chief seek deal in transatlantic tariffs standoff
US President Donald Trump and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen prepared to meet Sunday in Scotland in a push to resolve a months-long transatlantic trade standoff that is going down to the wire. Trump has said he sees a 50-50 chance of reaching a deal with the European Union, having vowed to hit dozens of countries with punitive tariffs unless they hammer out a pact with Washington by August 1. The EU is currently facing the threat of an across-the-board levy of 30 percent from that date. Von der Leyen's European Commission, negotiating on behalf of the EU's member countries, has been pushing hard for a deal to salvage a trading relationship worth an annual $1.9 trillion in goods and services. Any deal with the United States will need approval by all 27 member states. EU ambassadors, on a visit to Greenland, were to meet Sunday morning to discuss the latest negotiations -- and again after any accord. Sunday's sit-down between Trump and the EU chief was to take place at 4:30 pm (1530 GMT) in Turnberry, on Scotland's southwestern coast, where Trump owns a luxury golf resort. The 79-year-old American leader said Friday he hoped to strike "the biggest deal of them all" with the EU. "I think we have a good 50-50 chance" of a deal, the president said, citing sticking points on "maybe 20 different things". He praised von der Leyen as "a highly respected woman" -- a far cry from his erstwhile hostility in accusing the EU of existing to "screw" the United States. But late-night EU talks with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Saturday to hammer out the final details were "combative at times," The Financial Times reported. As of Saturday evening, there were "still quite a few open questions" -- notably on pharmaceutical sector tariffs, said one EU diplomat. Tariff levels on the auto sector were also crucial for the Europeans -- notably France and Germany -- and the EU has been pushing for a compromise on steel that could allow a certain quota into the United States before tariffs would apply. - Baseline 15 percent - According to European diplomats, the deal on the table involves a baseline levy of around 15 percent on EU exports to the United States -- the level secured by Japan -- with carve-outs for critical sectors including aircraft, lumber and spirits excluding wine. The EU would commit to ramp up purchases of US liquefied natural gas, along with a series of investment pledges. Hit by multiple waves of tariffs since Trump reclaimed the White House, the EU is currently subject to a 25-percent levy on cars, 50 percent on steel and aluminium, and an across-the-board tariff of 10 percent, which Washington threatens to hike to 30 percent in a no-deal scenario. The EU has focused on getting a deal with Washington to avoid sweeping tariffs that would further harm its sluggish economy, with retaliation as a last resort. While 15 percent would be much higher than pre-existing US tariffs on European goods -- at 4.8 percent -- it would mirror the status quo, with companies already facing an additional flat rate of 10 percent. Should talks fail, EU states have greenlit counter tariffs on $109 billion (93 billion euros) of US goods including aircraft and cars to take effect in stages from August 7. Brussels is also drawing up a list of US services to potentially target. Beyond that, countries like France say Brussels should not be afraid to deploy a so-called trade "bazooka" -- EU legislation designed to counter coercion through trade measures which involves restricting access to its market and public contracts. But such a step would mark a major escalation with Washington. - Ratings dropping - Trump has embarked since returning to power on a campaign to reshape US trade with the world. But polls suggest the American public is unconvinced, with a recent Gallup survey showing his approval rating at 37 percent -- down 10 points from January. Having promised "90 deals in 90 days," Trump's administration has so far unveiled five, including with Britain, Japan and the Philippines. Early Sunday, ahead of his meeting with Von der Leyen, Trump was out again on the golf course, having spent most of Saturday playing at Turnberry amid tight security. The trip to Scotland has put physical distance between Trump and the scandal around Jeffrey Epstein, the wealthy financier accused of sex trafficking who died in prison in 2019 before facing trial. In his heyday, Epstein was friends with Trump and others in the New York jet-set, but the president is facing backlash from his own MAGA supporters demanding access to the Epstein case files. With the uproar refusing to die down, a headline agreement with the EU -- in addition to bolstering Trump's dealmaker credentials -- could bring a welcome distraction.
