Among the defendants are eight men and two women aged between 41 and 60, including a civil servant, a teacher, an art gallery owner, an advertising manager, an IT specialist, and a medium. The prosecution claims that the defendants spread numerous offensive comments regarding gender, sexual orientation, and the age difference between Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron, some of which provoked associations with pedophilia.
One of the defendants is accused of spreading rumors that Brigitte Macron is allegedly a transgender woman named Jean-Michel. The defense argues that their client merely "reacted to publications" and did not directly address the First Lady.
Earlier, in September 2024, a first-instance court ordered her and another woman to pay several thousand euros in compensation to Brigitte Macron, as well as 5,000 euros to her brother Jean-Michel Tronier. However, on July 10, an appeals court acquitted one of the defendants.
The investigation into the facts of cyberbullying began after Brigitte Macron's appeal made on August 27, 2024, and is being conducted by a specialized team dealing with crimes against individuals. During the investigation, arrests were made in December 2024 and February 2025.
