Prof. Jane Kirtley Interviewed by Reuters About French President Macron’s Defamation Lawsuit

Professor Jane Kirtley, Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law, was interviewed by Reuters about French President Macron and his wife Brigitte filing a defamation lawsuit in the U.S. against right-wing influencer and podcaster Candace Owens, over her claim that France’s first lady was born male. The Macrons said in a complaint filed in Delaware Superior Court that Owens has waged a lie-filled “campaign of global humiliation” to promote her podcast and expand her “frenzied” fan base. Prof. Kirtley said the Macrons’ case faces high legal hurdles. She said, “I think President Macron will have a very difficult time with this libel suit and the reason for that is really simple. Under U.S. law, public officials are required to prove actual malice, knowledge of falsity, and reckless disregard for the truth. In his lengthy complaint, he has certainly alleged that on the part of this podcaster, but I think he's also probably not giving enough deference to the fact that courts in the United States grant broad discretion to individuals to comment on public officials.”