The court highlighted the particularly “degrading, insulting, and malicious” nature of the comments, which circulated false claims about Brigitte Macron’s gender identity and alleged criminal behavior. These unfounded allegations aimed to tarnish Mrs. Macron’s reputation.

Although Mrs. Macron was absent from the two-day trial held in October, she addressed the issue on TF1 national television, emphasizing her decision to pursue legal action. She stated that her aim was to “set an example” in the broader campaign against harassment.

During the proceedings, her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, provided a testimony that shed light on the adverse effects the relentless online harassment has had on her mother’s life. Auzière described a noticeable “deterioration” in her mother’s circumstances since the harassment began to escalate.

“It’s impossible for her to ignore the vile things being said,” Auzière explained to the court, noting that the impact of these harmful rumors has rippled through their family, affecting even Mrs. Macron’s grandchildren.

Delphine Jegousse, a 51-year-old known by her alias Amandine Roy, was identified as a key figure in propagating these rumors. Jegousse, who presents herself as a medium and author, was responsible for a four-hour video posted on her YouTube channel in 2021. As a result of her actions, she received a six-month prison sentence.

The X account of Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, 41, known as Zoé Sagan on social media, was suspended in 2024 after his name was cited in several judicial investigations. Poirson-Atlan was given an eight-month prison sentence.

Other defendants include an elected official, a teacher and a computer scientist. Several told the court their comments were intended as humour or satire and said they did not understand why they were being prosecuted.

The case follows years of conspiracy theories falsely alleging that Mrs Macron was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is actually the name of her brother. The Macrons have also filed a defamation suit in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens.

The Macrons, who have been married since 2007, first met at the high school where he was a student and she was a teacher. Mrs Macron, 24 years her husband’s senior, was then called Brigitte Auzière, a married mother of three.

Mr Macron, 48, has been France’s president since 2017.