The French first lady may have had her day in court, but can she win an even bigger case in the US to finally clear her name following the spread of online conspiracy theories?

After years of abuse, ten people have been found guilty of cyberbullying Brigitte Macron. Their claims included outright lies about her gender as well as allegations around the nature of her relationship with her husband, President Emmanuel Macron.

But the legal action won't stop there, with the couple also suing the American right-wing influencer Candace Owens for amplifying the same accusations.

So, who began spreading these theories and why? What is their enduring appeal to the public? And can the Macron trial prove to be a landmark moment in the fight against cyberbullying?

Niall speaks to Emma-Kate Symons, a Paris-based journalist at Conspiracy Watch and contributing editor at The New World, about where these theories start and why they catch on.

Producer: Tom Gillespie

Editor: Mike Bovill