⚖️ Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron sue Candace Owens in Tennessee

Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron have filed a second defamation suit against podcaster Candace Owens, this time in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, where she lives. The Christian Post says it was filed last Wednesday, and Hromadske, citing Politico, dates the complaint Nov. 4. The news was first reported Nov 9 at 7:05 AM ET.

The sequel has a documented cause. The Christian Post reports that Delaware Superior Court Judge Sheldon K. Rennie ruled last month that the court lacked personal jurisdiction over Owens. Hromadske, citing Politico, adds that the Delaware court kept jurisdiction over her two media companies. The Macrons' legal counsel told The Christian Post the new venue was her own request:

"With this filing, we are giving her exactly what she has repeatedly demanded. We look forward to holding her personally accountable for the defamatory lies she continues to promote and monetize."

The Macrons' legal counsel, to The Christian Post

What the filing alleges

The complaint says, as quoted by Hromadske: "She has continued to use her podcast to expand her lies about the Macrons, sell merchandise making fun of the Macrons, and collect donations based on her 'reporting' on the Macrons." The Sun reports that the filing accuses Owens of "unequivocally" doubling down on her claims about Mrs Macron's gender. The Macrons deny those claims, and The Sun quotes the complaint as saying Owens' statements are defamatory because they accuse the couple of lying to France and the world for decades and of committing crimes to conceal it.

The Christian Post reports that the filing recalls Owens saying in March 2024 that she "would stake [her] entire professional reputation" on her claim, and alleges she "disregarded all credible evidence disproving her claim." It also describes a doll Owens held up on episode 284 of her podcast, and argues that her later description of a bleach incident involving the doll as an "LGBTQ hate crime" shows her campaign is driven by animus. Page counts differ by outlet: The Sun says 411, Hromadske says 409.

Owens responds

Owens confirmed the suit on X on Monday. The Sun quotes her: "I'm afraid to say this is accurate. The Macrons have indeed filed a NEW set of claims against me." The Christian Post quotes the rest of the post, in which she sarcastically says the couple "want justice over my Brigitte-Doll" and that the doll "will be making no further statements at this time." The Sun reports she insists she believes her claims and has defended them as free speech. Hromadske reports that her representative did not immediately respond to Politico's request for comment.

What happens next

The reports read give no hearing date, no judge assignment and no deadline for Owens to answer. It is also not stated whether the Delaware claims against her two companies continue. The Sun and LGBTQ Nation both say only that the Delaware case was narrowed.

Backstory

CNN reported on July 23, 2025 that the Macrons filed a 22-count suit in Delaware Superior Court alleging defamation, false light and defamation by implication, and seeking punitive damages. BBC News reported that under US law the couple must prove "actual malice" and that their lawyer, Tom Clare, said they would present photographic and scientific evidence. The money thread is also on record. The Bulwark reported that on an Aug. 11 episode Owens said a legal team's estimate was "going to cost us millions. I don't have that money," and that she then pushed $30 T-shirts. Merchandise now features in the Macrons' new allegations. MrViral notes that the receipts have come full circle.

BBC News separately reported on Jan. 5, 2026 that a Paris court found ten people guilty of cyber-bullying Brigitte Macron. That case is separate from the US litigation.

As of Nov 10, 6:20 AM ET, what is confirmed is that a complaint dated Nov. 4 is in the Middle District of Tennessee and that Owens has acknowledged it on X. What is pending is everything a court would decide: a hearing date, Owens' formal answer, and the status of the Delaware claims against her companies. No ruling on the new suit has been reported.