Owens says she’ll seek medical examination of Brigitte Macron in defamation case
The U.S. defamation suit against Candace Owens argues for discovery that could include a third-party medical exam of Brigitte Macron and access to her medical records.
A U.S. court case involving Candace Owens and French First Lady Brigitte Macron has intensified, with Owens saying she will push for a third-party medical examination of Brigitte Macron and access to her medical records as part of their defamation suit. The Macrons filed the defamation complaint in Delaware, in July, seeking unspecified damages over Owens' repeated claims that Brigitte Macron was born male. The suit accuses Owens of promoting false statements in what it describes as a campaign of global humiliation and bullying.
The allegations originate from a 2021 online article published by a French far-right publication, which was later amplified by bloggers and social media personalities in France. According to the Macrons’ filing, Owens repeated these claims on her own channels, expanding the reach of the conspiracy and prompting the legal action in the United States. The case is still in its early stages, and the parties have not yet faced each other in a courtroom. If the case advances to discovery, Owens could face subpoenas for Brigitte Macron’s medical records and may be required to undergo or arrange for a third-party medical examination to verify her sex at birth.
Tom Clare, the Macron team’s lawyer, said Owens’ claims have been a distraction and deeply upsetting to Brigitte Macron. He noted that the defamation suit is still in its infancy and that the court process will determine how discovery is handled. If discovery proceeds, the Macrons would seek to obtain medical records and could push for an independent examination, as part of a broader effort to establish the veracity of the allegations. The lawyers have also signaled that evidence such as photographic materials could be introduced in court, subject to applicable rules and standards, as part of demonstrating Brigitte Macron’s gender identity.
In reporting on the case, the Macrons’ legal team has indicated that they plan to present evidence, including photographs and expert testimony, to support their position that the allegations are false. They have stressed that any such material would be introduced under the court’s rules, and that the aim is to set the record straight after what they describe as a persistent and harmful misinformation campaign. The BBC has reported that the Macrons intend to present generic and specific forms of evidence to show that the claims are false, though specifics remain to be disclosed in court proceedings.
The lawsuit is set against a backdrop of a prior legal fight involving two French bloggers, Natacha Rey and Amandine Roy, who were linked to the original conspiracy. The Macrons won an initial defamation ruling against Roy and Rey in 2024, but that decision was overturned on appeal this year on freedom-of-expression grounds, and the couple has appealed that ruling as well. The Delaware filing in July asserted that Owens’ broader online campaign had caused reputational harm and sought compensatory and punitive damages while arguing for a robust discovery process.
Owens, who has millions of followers, has publicly defended the claims on social media, tying her assertions to what she describes as a thorough investigation by French bloggers. The origin of the allegations traces back to the Faits et Documents article from September 2021, which was later echoed by Rey and Roy in online forums and videos. The Macrons have characterized Owens’ continued statements as damaging and harassing, a characterization they say justified seeking relief in U.S. courts. The case highlights the cross-border dimensions of defamation actions in the digital era and the potential for discovery to compel non-American witnesses and records in transnational disputes.