00:00French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte reportedly hired a New York-based
00:06private investigations firm before suing American podcaster Candace Owens for defamation over a
00:13series centered around a conspiracy that France's first lady was born male.
00:21The Financial Times reports the couple hired a PI to research Owens' political connections
00:28and past statements including all affiliations to right-wing figures in France, Britain and the U.S.
00:36The PI was reportedly ordered to look into any Russian ties as some of Owens' online content has
00:43been featured in Russian state media but the investigators told the Financial Times they did
00:48not find any evidence that Owens has any direct personal or business links to Russia. The lawsuit
00:56filed last month in Delaware centers on Owens' podcast series Becoming Brigitte. In it she claims
01:03that France's first lady was born male. I've said it a thousand times I believe Brigitte Macron was born
01:08a biological male okay and then transitioned into a female that's that is my belief I don't know how
01:14many times I can say it. It's an allegation the Macron's describe as outlandish and defamatory.
01:20Their attorney says investigators were hired to understand why Owens published the series and to
01:27give jurors context about where the claims came from. Investigators allegedly tied the rumor back to a
01:34Spanish blogger in 2017 which a French publisher said he forwarded to Owens in 2024. Owens has dismissed
01:43the lawsuit and the Macron's hiring of a PI as an overreaction to her claims. But the Macron's are
01:50taking it seriously. Their lawyers saying the French president and first lady will travel to the United
01:56States to appear in person once their trial begins.
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