The Slow Newscast Trolled: Brigitte Macron
Oct 21, 2025
Join Stephen Armstrong, a seasoned reporter for The Observer, and Jules d'Armenard, a French journalist, as they delve into the outrageous conspiracy theories targeting Brigitte Macron. They discuss the Macrons' bold lawsuit against Candace Owens, igniting debates on defamation and public figures' rights. Explore how age gaps sparked rumors and the intriguing dynamics of their early relationship. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of misinformation, the challenges of libel in the US, and how truth can be weaponized in today's political climate.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Conspiracy Crosses Borders For Profit
- Candace Owens repackaged a long-running French conspiracy into a profitable trans-focused spectacle for a US audience.
- The Macrons face unprecedented global defamation from an influencer enabled by platform scale.
Teacher-Student Relationship Sparked Rumours
- Brigitte Macron met Emmanuel Macron when she was his drama teacher and he was a teenager, which fuelled decades of gossip.
- Their unusual relationship and age gap became persistent fodder for speculation and conspiracy.
Legal Action Can Amplify Rumours
- The Macrons previously sued in France and won a limited ruling that was later overturned, which seeded new online attention.
- That earlier legal action inadvertently amplified the conspiracy and helped it migrate internationally.