Brigitte Macron says public life revealed the world’s cruelty, foolishness

Brigitte Macron used a rare public reflection to describe the toll of life at the center of French power, saying her years as first lady had shown her the world’s “darkness,” “stupidity” and “wickedness.” The comments carried added force because they came as Emmanuel Macron has said he will leave politics in 2027, closing a presidential era that has kept the couple under intense scrutiny for nearly a decade.

Her words underscored how the burden of leadership does not stop with the elected official. Brigitte Macron, born in Amiens on April 13, 1953, has been France’s first lady since May 14, 2017. She married Emmanuel Macron on October 20, 2007, after the two met at Lycée La Providence in Amiens, where she was a teacher and he was a student. Their 24-year age gap has made them a constant subject of fascination, and often of cruelty, in French political life.

The comments also land against a harsh legal backdrop. On January 5, 2026, a Paris court found 10 people guilty of cyberbullying Brigitte Macron over false claims about her gender and sexuality. The court described the online attacks as “particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious.” The defendants, who ranged in age from 41 to 65, received prison sentences, suspended sentences, and mandatory cyberbullying awareness training.

That case showed how social media abuse can metastasize into a public campaign of humiliation, especially when women attached to political power are turned into targets. Brigitte Macron’s daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified that her mother’s life had deteriorated under the pressure, a reminder that the damage can spill far beyond the presidential household.

The Macrons have also taken the fight abroad. In July 2025, they filed a defamation lawsuit in Delaware Superior Court against Candace Owens over claims that Brigitte Macron was born male. The case has become part of a wider struggle over reputation, dignity and the reach of conspiracy-driven commentary across borders.

Brigitte Macron’s remarks now arrive at a moment when France is preparing for succession. Emmanuel Macron said on April 24, 2026, that he would quit politics after his second and final five-year term ends in 2027, and the race to replace him is already taking shape. Her view of public life, sharpened by years of scrutiny, suggests that the costs of power are felt most sharply not only in the Élysée Palace, but also in the private lives pulled into its orbit.