Brigitte Macron: the transphobic rumors and long-hidden truths now exposed

By Brandon Lee

Brigitte Macron

For years, France’s First Lady has been the target of bizarre claims questioning her identity. Now, with her daughter speaking out, the toxic mix of social media disinformation and transphobia is being brought into the spotlight.

A rumour rooted in transphobia

Brigitte Macron has faced many things in her public life — scrutiny, admiration, critique — but one of the most persistent and offensive rumours remains the baseless claim that she was born a man. It’s a conspiracy that first surfaced years ago, fuelled by fringe voices and amplified through social media misinformation.

These rumours aren’t just bizarre — they’re deeply transphobic, reducing a person’s identity to speculation and gossip. For Brigitte Macron, the attacks haven’t only been personal. They’ve affected her family too, including her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, who recently addressed the issue publicly.

Speaking to the press, Auzière expressed both concern and disappointment over the reach and traction these rumours have gained. “There’s something really worrying about a society where people can say absolutely anything — and have it believed,” she said. Her comments weren’t just about defending her mother, but also about highlighting the broader threat posed by online disinformation.

The impact on family and children

It’s one thing to be targeted as a public figure. It’s quite another when your children are forced to confront playground whispers rooted in the dark corners of the internet. Auzière explained how her own kids have overheard cruel remarks at school — and that she makes a point of listening when they bring it up.

“Children experience things with a different kind of intensity,” she said, pointing out how online gossip can trickle into real-world harm, especially for younger generations. As a lawyer and mother, she’s become increasingly vocal about how misinformation, especially when laced with bigotry and discrimination, affects not only public figures but society at large.

The women behind the conspiracy

This wasn’t the accidental product of internet whispers. The rumour was deliberately stoked by two women — Amandine Roy, a self-proclaimed psychic, and Natacha Rey, who labels herself an independent journalist. In 2021, they released a video in which they tried to justify their belief that France’s First Lady had a secret past.

Their claims were unfounded, of course. But that didn’t stop the story from spreading. A complaint was filed against both women for violating privacy laws, misuse of personal images, and infringing on personality rights.

The fallout has been ongoing. Natacha Rey was even taken into custody twice in connection with the case. Her lawyer, Frédéric Pichon, criticised what he saw as an excessive response from authorities, suggesting the legal action was a form of intimidation.

“If her theories are so absurd, why go to such lengths to silence her?” he asked. But in reality, it’s not about the absurdity — it’s about the harm. And when falsehoods turn malicious and defamatory, the law tends to take notice.

A deeper question about society

This isn’t just a story about Brigitte Macron. It’s a window into how conspiracy theories, fuelled by prejudice and social media virality, can spiral into full-blown reputational attacks. It’s also a stark reminder of how transphobia, even when disguised as “just a rumour”, perpetuates stigma and harm far beyond its intended target.

Tiphaine Auzière’s decision to speak out is more than a defence of her mother — it’s a call to take misinformation seriously, to teach our children critical thinking, and to remember that behind every headline is a human being, not a hashtag.

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