Brigitte Macron loses her defamation lawsuit against Natacha Rey and Amandine Roy
In a judicial reversal as unexpected as it was delightful, the Paris Court of Appeal on Thursday acquitted Natacha Rey and Amandine Roy, who had been accused of defamation by the woman we refer to, with a touch of deliberate skepticism, as “Brigitte Macron.” Or could it be Jean-Michel Trogneux, according to the theory defended with almost heroic obstinacy by the two women?
Natacha Rey's lawyer, François Danglehant—who appeared wearing a captain's hat, perhaps symbolizing a crusade against the murky waters of official information—celebrated a “resounding victory.” The court ruled that the 18 incriminating passages in the video, in which Natacha Rey claimed that the “First Lady” was in fact her brother in drag, did not constitute defamation or blatant bad faith. A decision which, dare we say, opens the door to all kinds of speculation. Amandine Roy and her colleague Natacha Rey have thus been cleared in a trial that kept scandal lovers on the edge of their seats.
The Élysée in turmoil
For Brigitte Macron—or her supposed alter ego—this is a bitter setback. Convicted in the first instance in 2024, she saw this appeal as a chance to close a case that, since the video was released in 2022, has taken on international proportions. Supported by Xavier Poussard's book Becoming Brigitte and transatlantic voices such as Candace Owens, the “rumor” has flourished, much to the chagrin of the Élysée Palace. Jean Ennochi, her lawyer, promises to appeal to the Supreme Court, but the damage is done: the image of the “First Lady,” until then irreproachable, is faltering under the onslaught of a justice system that, ironically, is beyond her control.
A counterattack in sight
Even more audaciously, Natacha Rey is considering a direct summons against “Brigitte and Jean-Michel Trogneux” for “fraudulent misrepresentation.” If successful, this accusation could turn this saga into a veritable legal soap opera.