A court in Paris has convicted 10 individuals for orchestrating a prolonged online harassment campaign against France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron.

The ruling, delivered on Monday, January 5, 2026, found the defendants guilty of spreading false and defamatory claims, including allegations that Brigitte Macron is a transgender woman who was born male, French media reported.

For several years, Brigitte Macron and her husband, President Emmanuel Macron, have been the subjects of recurring conspiracy theories and online abuse.

Among the most persistent falsehoods was the claim that the First Lady was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux — a name that actually belongs to her elder brother.

The couple has also faced sustained mockery over their 24-year age difference.

Although the Macrons largely ignored such attacks in the past, they have recently taken a firmer stance, choosing to confront what they describe as coordinated smear campaigns through legal action.