Court Relieves Candace Owens of Personal Liability in Macron Lawsuit
American podcast host Candace Owens will not be held personally liable in the defamation lawsuit filed against her by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, reports The New York Times.
The Macrons filed a lawsuit in the state court of Delaware in July 2025. The plaintiffs contest Owens' false claims that Brigitte Macron is a man, stating that these remarks caused serious and irreparable damage to their reputation. In addition to Owens herself, two of her companies—Candace Owens LLC and GeorgeTom—were named as defendants.
At an October hearing, Delaware Superior Court Judge Sheldon Rennie concluded that the state court could not consider claims against Owens personally, as she resides in Tennessee. The claims against her were dismissed, but the case against her two companies will proceed. Thus, even if the Macrons win the case, they are unlikely to be able to recover compensation from Owens' personal assets.
The judge also ruled that French, rather than American, statutes of limitations should apply to the dispute, as the plaintiffs reside in France. Under French law, defamation claims must be filed within three months of publication. If the statements concern race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability, the deadline is extended to one year.
