France's first couple plans to seek "substantial" damages from U.S. influencer Candace Owens if she continues claiming that President Emmanuel Macron's wife, Brigitte, is a man.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte filed a defamation lawsuit in the U.S. on Wednesday against right-wing influencer and podcaster Candace Owens, centered on her claim that France's first lady is male.

Here is the story: Candace Owens has been pushing a horrific lie about France's First Lady, Brigitte Macron. She has claimed that Brigitte was born a man. This is a lie. A fact free, conspiracy theory, disproven lie. But, Candace keeps pushing it.

Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron — no strangers to controversy given their 25-year age gap — say Owens defamed them by weaving

France's justice minister is transferring 100 of the country’s most dangerous inmates to a high-security prison to prevent them from running criminal operations from behind bars

The right-wing podcaster, who has been at the center of hate-speech allegations, responds directly to the French president's lawsuit in her podcast.

Owens’ claim is one example of a wider trend of conspiracy theories targeting prominent women in politics and culture, including former first lady Michelle Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris.