The court highlighted comments targeting Mrs. Macron as “particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious,” focusing on false claims about her alleged transgender identity and supposed criminal behavior involving children.

Although Mrs. Macron did not attend the October trial, she appeared on TF1 national television on Sunday, explaining that she initiated the legal action to “set an example” in combating harassment.

Her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified about the “deterioration” in her mother’s life caused by the surge in online harassment.

“She cannot turn a blind eye to the horrific things said about her,” Auzière informed the court, noting the widespread impact on the family, including Mrs. Macron’s grandchildren.

Delphine Jegousse, 51, also known as Amandine Roy, a self-proclaimed medium and author, was found to be a key figure in spreading the rumor through a four-hour video she posted on her YouTube channel in 2021. She received a six-month prison sentence.

Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, 41, known as Zoé Sagan on social media, had his X account suspended in 2024 after being linked to multiple judicial investigations. He was sentenced to eight months in prison.

Other defendants include an elected official, a teacher and a computer scientist. Several told the court their comments were intended as humour or satire and said they did not understand why they were being prosecuted.

The case follows years of conspiracy theories falsely alleging that Mrs Macron was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is actually the name of her brother. The Macrons have also filed a defamation suit in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens.

The Macrons, who have been married since 2007, first met at the high school where he was a student and she was a teacher. Mrs Macron, 24 years her husband’s senior, was then called Brigitte Auzière, a married mother of three.

Mr Macron, 48, has been France’s president since 2017.