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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, informed a judicial body in Paris that misleading allegations online—including the baseless theory that she is transgender—have negatively impacted her mother's quality of life.

She, a attorney, served as a testifier in the court case of ten people allegedly involved in digital bullying against the first lady.

Consequences on Personal Routine

Auzière explained that Brigitte Macron now is always concerned about her demeanor, such as the clothes she wears to how she stands, because of the apprehension that every photograph may be misused to fuel negative campaigns.

"The result is that she systematically must be cautious to her outfits, her body language, no matter what her activities in her daily life," she told the court.

Those on Trial and Charges

Ten individuals, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for online harassment. A few had limited online influence, while others were more visible.

Each one is alleged to have spreading defamatory content about the first lady's personal life. In certain cases, this involved equating her age difference with Emmanuel Macron to hurtful comparisons.

If convicted, they may be sentenced to up to two years in prison.

Consequences for Loved Ones

Auzière, one of three children from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, described how the false claims have caused a "decline of her health" and a "decline of her overall existence".

She testified, "Scarcely a day passes when an individual does not talk this to her."

She highlighted the impact on her relatives, such as her grandchildren learning about malicious statements like "She is not truthful" or "She is actually a man".

"She does not know what to do about it," Auzière stated. "She didn't run for election, she didn't pursue anything, and she is permanently experiencing this abuse."

Judicial Proceedings Background

The Paris trial is part of an ongoing effort in a broader legal battle against the false claim that the first lady was male.

The couple have pursued a legal action in the United States alleging slander involving a media personality who promoted the allegation.

The lawsuit asserts that the allegation is totally unfounded and points out that the name mentioned is actually Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Trial Testimonies

In court, several defendants denied the charges.

• A retired business owner, serving as a local official, claimed he "did not mean to cause harm" and described his online statements as humorous.
• A fiction writer stated that his online activity were intended as "satire" and expressed concern that the legal action could threaten "free speech".
• Another individual said he disseminated content since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "consequences for France".

Relationship Background

The inaccurate claim about the first lady's identity gained traction partly because the Macrons' relationship has long been a topic of comment in digital spaces.

The first lady, aged significantly older than her husband, initially encountered Emmanuel Macron when working as a educator at his secondary school.

The connection between them grew through drama activities, and they wed in the following year, subsequent to her divorce.

Auzière concluded her account by stating that the false claims have caused a "whirlwind that continues endlessly" for the first lady.