In a stunning blow to unchecked online vitriol, a Paris court has ruled against 10 individuals for cyberbullying France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron, over baseless and vicious rumors about her personal life.

On Monday, January 6, 2026, the court found these defendants guilty of spreading false claims about Brigitte Macron’s gender and sexuality, sentencing them to penalties ranging from suspended terms to prison time and mandatory training on cyberbullying.

Court Delivers Justice for Online Smears

The saga began with malicious online posts, including vile assertions that Brigitte Macron was born male and insinuations tying her 24-year age difference with President Emmanuel Macron to unfounded accusations of misconduct. These claims, viewed tens of thousands of times, weren’t just gossip—they were digital daggers aimed at a public figure’s dignity.

Among the guilty, the defendants—eight men and two women aged 41 to 65—received varied sentences reflecting the court’s view of their actions as “particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious.” One got a six-month prison term, possibly to be served at home with monitoring, while eight others received suspended sentences of four to eight months.

All 10 must attend cyberbullying awareness training, and several face a six-month suspension of access to the social media platforms where they spewed their nonsense. It’s a start, but conservatives might wonder if a mere slap on the wrist will deter the next wave of keyboard warriors in a world obsessed with progressive excuses for bad behavior.

Key Figures in the Cyberbullying Case

Delphine Jegousse, a 51-year-old self-described medium also known as Amandine Roy, was slapped with a six-month sentence for a four-hour YouTube video from 2021 that fueled the rumor mill.

Similarly, Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, known online as Zoé Sagan, got an eight-month term alongside a gallery owner, after his X account was already suspended in 2024 amid judicial scrutiny.

Interestingly, one defendant, a teacher, dodged prison time with an apology during the trial but still must attend awareness training. If apologies can soften penalties, what’s stopping others from playing the remorse card after the damage is done?

The court didn’t mince words, stating, “Repeated publications have had cumulative harmful effects.” Well, no kidding—when lies spread like wildfire online, they don’t just sting; they scar. From a right-of-center view, this ruling is a rare win against the woke culture that often shrugs off personal responsibility for “free speech.”

Brigitte Macron’s Fight Against Harassment

Brigitte Macron, 72, who has been married to Emmanuel Macron, 48, since 2007, didn’t attend the two-day trial in October 2025, but her resolve was clear. She spoke out on TF1 television the day before the verdict, saying, “I launched legal proceedings to ‘set an example’ in the fight against harassment.” Good for her—standing up to digital mobs shouldn’t be optional for anyone, let alone a first lady.

Her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to the court about the “deterioration of her mother’s life since the online harassment intensified.” It’s a sobering reminder that behind every public figure are families bearing the brunt of online cruelty.

Some defendants claimed their posts were mere humor or satire, expressing bewilderment at facing prosecution. Sorry, folks, but “just joking” doesn’t cut it when your words weaponize lies against someone’s character—conservatives know accountability isn’t a punchline.

Broader Implications of the Verdict

The court deemed the sentences proportional to the severity of the comments, a stance that aligns with a populist push for justice over coddling. Meanwhile, the Macrons are also pursuing a defamation suit in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens, signaling they’re not backing down.

This case, tied to years of conspiracy theories falsely claiming Brigitte Macron was born under her brother’s name, Jean-Michel Trogneux, exposes how far online falsehoods can spiral. For conservatives wary of Big Tech’s role in amplifying such garbage, it’s a call to demand stricter platform oversight without bowing to progressive overreach.