Ten individuals are potentially facing up to two years of imprisonment each for allegedly engaging in discriminatory online harassment towards Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron. The accused, consisting of a woman and six men, are charged with spreading false information about Ms. Macron’s gender and making derogatory remarks about her relationship with her husband. The defendants, known as ‘trolls’, are accused of cyberbullying that reportedly caused significant harm to Ms. Macron’s well-being.
Out of the ten charged individuals, seven attended court proceedings where they were confronted with the allegations of relentless online harassment directed at Brigitte Macron. The trial commenced at the Paris Correctional Court, with three defendants failing to appear. A notable figure among the accused is Amandine Roy, also known as Delphine Jegousse, who allegedly made defamatory statements about Ms. Macron in a lengthy YouTube video, suggesting false claims about her past and relationships.
During the trial, Roy and the other defendants denied any wrongdoing, asserting that their actions were within the realm of free speech. The case revolves around numerous offensive comments targeting Brigitte Macron’s personal life, including her age difference with her spouse. The prosecution highlighted the severity of cyberbullying as an offense punishable by imprisonment, emphasizing the impact it had on Ms. Macron’s mental and physical well-being.
Among the accused individuals is Aurelien Poirson-Atlan, also known as ‘Zoe Sagan’ online, who faces similar allegations related to online harassment against Ms. Macron. Defense lawyers have argued that the prosecution’s stance is politically motivated and infringes on the defendants’ freedom of expression rights.
The controversial nature of the Macron marriage, stemming from its beginnings when Emmanuel Macron was a schoolboy and Brigitte Auzière was his teacher, has been a subject of ongoing speculation. Despite facing societal scrutiny and hurtful rumors, the couple eventually married in 2007, preceding Emmanuel Macron’s later rise to the French presidency as an independent candidate.