Ten people have been found guilty of cyber-bullying Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, by a Paris court.
The defendants were accused of spreading false claims about her gender and sexuality, as well as making 'malicious remarks' about the 24-year age gap between the couple.
Most of the defendants received suspended prison sentences of up to eight months, with one jailed for failing to attend court. Some individuals faced suspension of their social media accounts.
The judge noted that the eight men and two women acted with clear intent to harm Brigitte Macron, making degrading and insulting remarks online.
Two of the convicted individuals, independent journalist Natacha Rey and internet fortune-teller Amandine Roy, had previously been found guilty of slander in 2024 for claiming that France's first lady had never existed, though they were later cleared by an appeals court.
Brigitte Macron's lawyer emphasized the importance of the ruling for preventing similar behavior and highlighted the potential for changing the perpetrators' habits.
Tiphaine Auzière, Brigitte Macron's daughter, testified during the trial about the negative impact of the bullying on her mother's health and the repercussions on her grandchildren.
The Macrons are preparing for a major defamation trial in the United States against right-wing influencer Candace Owens, who has propagated similar conspiracy theories regarding Brigitte Macron's gender.
This ruling follows a significant shift in the Macrons' approach to the online harassment they faced, opting to challenge the conspiracy theories rather than ignore them.
