On 5/1, a Paris court convicted 8 men and two women of spreading malicious comments about first lady Brigitte Macron's gender. The individuals also faced charges for comparing the age difference between her and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The individuals received varying sentences, with one person handed a 6-month prison term. The remaining nine defendants received suspended sentences of up to 8 months.

Beyond the prison terms, the court imposed additional penalties, including fines and mandatory participation in online harassment awareness courses. 5 of the convicted individuals were also banned from the social media platforms where they disseminated false information about Brigitte's gender.

French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron in Paris in 12/2025. Photo: AFP

Some defendants contended their comments about Brigitte were merely satirical, but the court dismissed this argument. Bertrand Scholler, a 55-year-old writer who received a 6-month suspended sentence, announced his intention to appeal the verdict.

Prior to the trial, first lady Brigitte stated on 4/1 that she hoped the legal action against online bullies would deter others. She emphasized that the online attacks against her appeared ceaseless, with perpetrators disregarding clear evidence of her gender.

"A birth certificate is undeniable proof. It is the parents who register the birth, stating clearly who their child is. I want to use this to help teenagers fight against online harassment. If I don't set an example, it will be very difficult," Brigitte stated.

Brigitte, 72, married Macron, 48, in 2007. Their age-gap relationship garnered significant public interest after Macron became French President. Baseless rumors alleging Brigitte "was identified as male at birth" first surfaced in 2017, coinciding with criticism regarding the couple's age difference.

By Ngoc Anh. Sources: Reuters, SCMP, Yahoo News.