Brigitte Macron Takes Big Steps After Gender Error on French Tax Portal

Brigitte Macron, France’s First Lady and wife of President Emmanuel Macron, has filed a formal complaint after her name was incorrectly listed as male on the country’s official tax website. The mislabeling comes amid ongoing defamation battles over false gender transition claims that have circulated online since 2021.

The incident occurred during a tax audit last year, when Brigitte Macron’s official records allegedly displayed her name as “Jean-Michel, called Brigitte Macron.” The case has since drawn widespread attention, given the sensitivity of the false narratives surrounding her gender identity and the couple’s legal response.

Brigitte Macron’s Complaint and Ongoing Legal Battles

According to French media reports, the error was not caused by a technical glitch but by an external manipulation of the system. Investigators suspect that hackers or individuals deliberately interfered with the data to spread misinformation. Following the discovery, the Élysée Palace initiated an internal investigation, which identified two suspects connected to the manipulation.

Tristan Bohn, chief of staff to the First Lady, told BFMTV’s documentary *Red Line* that both he and Brigitte Macron were “shocked” to see her name incorrectly listed in government records. “We double-checked, and it was indeed marked that way,” Bohn said, confirming the seriousness of the issue.

Brigitte Macron’s complaint is the latest in a series of legal actions aimed at combating false claims that she was born male and had transitioned. These rumors first surfaced in 2021 when bloggers Amandine Roy and Natasha Rey alleged that she was actually her brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux, and had changed her identity years earlier. The baseless claims spread widely across social media and were later amplified by American commentator Candace Owens.

Macrons’ Legal Fight Against Defamation

The Macrons have actively pursued legal action to counter these rumors. In July 2025, they filed a defamation lawsuit against Owens, vowing to present scientific evidence to confirm Brigitte Macron’s biological identity as female. The couple also previously won a defamation suit against Roy and Rey, though that ruling was overturned by an appellate court citing freedom of expression concerns. Brigitte Macron has since appealed to France’s Supreme Court to reinstate the original verdict.

The case highlights the intersection of privacy, digital manipulation, and misinformation targeting high-profile individuals. French authorities have emphasized that tampering with government databases constitutes a serious offense under national cybersecurity law, carrying potential prison terms and fines.

Broader Implications and Public Reaction

The scandal underscores how misinformation campaigns can evolve from online conspiracy theories into real-world consequences. Political analysts in France have noted that the persistent falsehoods about Brigitte Macron reflect broader societal divisions and the challenges of combating digital defamation in the era of viral disinformation.

Public support for the First Lady has been strong among her allies and the general French public, many of whom view her legal actions as a stand for truth and dignity. “This isn’t only about one person,” a French media law expert told AFP. “It’s about the right to factual representation and the defense of reputation in a digital world.”

Brigitte Macron’s latest complaint marks another firm step in her ongoing effort to clear her name and challenge the spread of false narratives, as France tightens scrutiny over online harassment and digital fraud.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Why did Brigitte Macron file a complaint?

She filed a complaint after her name was incorrectly listed as male on the French tax portal, which authorities traced to unauthorized data tampering.

Q2: What is the background of the gender transition rumors?

The false claims began in 2021 when two French bloggers alleged she was born male, a theory later echoed by American commentator Candace Owens.

Q3: Has Brigitte Macron taken legal action before?

Yes. She and President Macron have filed several defamation lawsuits against individuals and media figures spreading the false claims.

Q4: What did investigators find about the data error?

Authorities ruled out a system glitch and instead identified unauthorized interference, possibly a hack or manual manipulation.

Q5: What could happen next?

The investigation continues, and Brigitte Macron’s Supreme Court appeal over previous defamation cases remains pending.