Hackers Change Brigitte Macron’s Gender to Male on Tax Forms

French First Lady Brigitte Macron is once again in the crosshairs of a cruel online campaign — this time after hackers reportedly changed her gender from “female” to “male” on official tax forms, reigniting a long-running conspiracy that she was born a man.

The cyberattack, confirmed by French media on Monday, listed her as “Jean-Michel, known as Brigitte Macron.” The entry appeared to reference an online theory falsely claiming that the 72-year-old former teacher was born “Jean-Michel Trogneux” — the name of her real-life brother.

“Imagine logging into your tax account and seeing your entire identity falsified,” a Macron family insider told Le Parisien. “This isn’t satire. It’s harassment.”

Paris Trial Targets Sexist Cyber-Harassment

Ten people — eight men and two women, ages 41 to 60 — went on trial in Paris this week, accused of orchestrating years of digital defamation against the First Lady.

Prosecutors say the defendants circulated doctored documents, YouTube videos, and fake news posts to convince the public Brigitte was transgender. If convicted, they face up to two years in prison and heavy fines under France’s cyber-harassment laws.

“These are not harmless rumors,” said prosecutor Céline Parisot. “They are sexist attacks aimed at demeaning a woman through lies about her body and identity.”

Conspiracy Roots in France’s Political Divide

Brigitte Macron’s gender has been the subject of wild online claims since her husband, President Emmanuel Macron, was elected in 2017. Critics on the far right have long targeted the couple over their 24-year age gap and her prominent political role.

Experts say the conspiracy has been fueled by France’s polarized media environment. “The claims took off in anti-government Telegram groups during the COVID lockdowns,” said sociologist Frédéric Bourdier. “It mixed misogyny, homophobia, and political resentment into one toxic cocktail.”

Defamation Lawsuit in the U.S. Targets Candace Owens

Across the Atlantic, the Macrons are also pursuing a defamation lawsuit against conservative commentator Candace Owens, who repeated the claims in an eight-part podcast titled Becoming Brigitte.

In their 22-count complaint filed in a U.S. court, the Macrons accuse Owens of spreading “verifiably false and devastating lies” and ignoring three formal retraction requests.

“These claims are demonstrably false, and Owens knew they were false when she published them,” the lawsuit reads. “She did it for attention — not truth.”

Their attorney, Tom Clare, told reporters the First Lady plans to present “scientific and photographic evidence” proving she was born female. “Expert testimony will be introduced, scientific in nature,” Clare said. “The facts will speak for themselves.”

“Enough Is Enough,” Says Macron Camp

The Macrons say they’ve reached their limit. “Ms. Owens’ campaign of defamation was plainly designed to harass and cause pain,” the couple said in a statement. “We gave her every opportunity to back away from these claims, but she refused. It is our earnest hope that this lawsuit will end this campaign once and for all.”

While the Paris trial moves forward, investigators continue tracing the hackers who tampered with the First Lady’s tax account.

For Brigitte Macron, the fight has become deeply personal. “This isn’t about politics,” a friend close to her said. “It’s about dignity — and the right of a woman not to have her identity erased by hate.”