(José Niño, Headline USA) Candace Owens has secured a procedural victory in her legal battle with Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron, but the dispute over her false claims about France’s first lady is far from finished.
A Delaware judge dismissed the claims against Owens personally while allowing the case against her two companies to continue, according to the New York Times.
The Macrons filed their lawsuit in July 2025 against Owens, Candace Owens LLC, and GeorgeTom. They accused the podcaster of damaging their reputations by repeatedly promoting the false allegation that Brigitte Macron is a man. Their complaint described “substantial and irreparable damage” resulting from the campaign
On Tuesday, Delaware Superior Court Judge Sheldon K. Rennie ruled that the court lacked personal jurisdiction over Owens, who lives in Tennessee. Her businesses remain defendants because they are registered in Delaware. The decision addressed the court’s authority to hear claims against her, not whether her statements were true or whether the companies committed defamation. Reuters confirmed that distinction.
For now, the ruling likely protects Owens’s personal assets from a judgment in this proceeding. It does not prevent the Macrons from exploring other legal avenues, and their lawyers at Clare Locke said they would consider additional ways to pursue personal accountability.
A separate deadline dispute could prove equally consequential. Rennie determined that French limitation periods should govern because the Macrons live in France. As the Times noted, French law generally allows three months to bring a defamation claim, extending that period to one year for certain statements targeting characteristics including sex, religion, race, sexual orientation, or disability.
The judge requested further arguments before deciding which period applies. Applying the shorter window could end the remaining lawsuit because the Macrons did not bring their initial action within that timeframe. No final dismissal of the corporate claims has occurred.
Owens celebrated online, saying she was “tremendously grateful” to the courts and the judge, the Times reported. Her spokesman declined further comment. Clare Locke welcomed the survival of the claims against her companies.
The underlying controversy began in March 2024, when Owens publicly staked her reputation on the allegation about Brigitte Macron. According to the Times, she subsequently devoted dozens of “Candace” episodes to the conspiracy theory. Its earlier reporting detailed the Macrons’ allegation that she exploited the claims to attract attention and revenue.
The Times also reported that Owens faces two separate pending defamation lawsuits in Tennessee and Utah over her commentary about Charlie Kirk’s killing. Neither case has established liability.
José Niño is the deputy editor of Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/JoseAlNino
