• Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron have filed a defamation lawsuit against Candace Owens.
• The couple alleges Owens spread false claims that Brigitte was born male.
• The lawsuit has 22 counts, including defamation and false light.
• Macrons are seeking unspecified punitive damages in the lawsuit.
• The claims have reportedly caused "relentless bullying" and "global humiliation" for the couple.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte filed a defamation lawsuit against American podcaster Candace Owens for claims that Brigitte was born male. The 218-page complaint was filed in Delaware Superior Court, alleging Owens has waged a "campaign of global humiliation" against them, seeking unspecified damages, according to CBS News and BBC.

Owens is accused of promoting "outlandish, defamatory, and far-fetched fictions" through her podcast series titled "Becoming Brigitte," where she allegedly stated that Brigitte Macron was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which belongs to her brother. The Macrons contend that the false claims have led to relentless bullying on a worldwide scale, damaging their reputation, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

In response to repeated requests from the Macrons for retractions, Owens has purportedly refused, with statements reflecting her steadfastness in pursuing her claims. This lawsuit is being framed by the Macrons as a necessary step to protect their dignity and family from her continued defamation, as asserted in their official statements to the media, according to HuffPost and Los Angeles Times.

The Macrons' legal representation highlighted that this action comes after unsuccessful attempts to engage with Owens over the allegations, marking the lawsuit as a "last resort." They insist their claims against Owens are founded on extensive evidence refuting her statements about their relationship and identities, according to South China Morning Post and Le Monde.

Owens has publicly reacted to the lawsuit, vowing to fight back and suggesting that the allegations are part of an effort to suppress her right to free speech as an American journalist. This confrontation signifies notable tensions between political figures and media influencers, raising questions about the boundaries of commentary and defamation in the digital age, per TRT World and Newsweek.