A Paris criminal court has convicted an art dealer and nine others of online harassment targeting France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron, after finding they spread abusive and false claims on social media.

The Tribunal correctionnel de Paris ruled last Monday that the defendants committed cyberharassment by repeatedly circulating degrading and malicious content about Macron online. The court ruled the conduct met the legal definition of cyberharassment under French law.

Bertrand Scholler, the cofounder of Paris art gallery 55 Bellechasse, said on Elon Musk’s X platform that he was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for six months. Under French law, he will not serve time in prison if he does not commit another crime for six months.

Scholler was also ordered not to post to the platform for six months.

“I therefore comply with the judgment and close this account for six months,” he said. “I am not dead and I will return, God willing.”

The case centered on a wave of online posts that targeted Brigitte Macron, spreading false claims that she had been born a man.

The defendants, who included figures active on social media, contested the charges, arguing their posts fell under free expression. The court rejected that defense, concluding the material met France’s legal definition of cyberharassment.

They received varying sentences, but were ordered to pay a total of €10,000, about $11,700, in damages to Brigitte Macron and each were mandated to attend cyberbullying awareness training.

Awareness Training: All 10 defendants were mandated to attend cyberbullying awareness training, a common feature of French sentences in these cases to prevent recidivism.

The verdict reflects France’s recent use of criminal law to address online harassment involving public figures. The ruling was issued in open court and is subject to appeal under French law.

Follow along with other art crime stories at Urgent Matter’s art crime tracker.

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