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The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a judicial body in Paris that misleading allegations spread through social media—including the groundless claim that Brigitte Macron had a male birth identity—have negatively impacted her mother's daily existence.

She, a attorney, was called as a testifier in the legal proceedings of ten people accused of digital bullying against Brigitte Macron.

Effects on Everyday Activities

Auzière testified that the first lady now worries constantly about how she looks, from her fashion choices to the way she carries herself, as a result of the fear that any image could be manipulated to fuel hateful attacks.

"The result is that she systematically must be cautious to her clothing, how she holds herself, regardless of her activities in everyday routine," she informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Charges

Eight men and two women, between 41 and 60 years old, are facing charges for online harassment. Several had a small social media following, while others were better known.

Each one is charged with spreading defamatory content about the first lady's gender and sexuality. For some, this involved linking the disparity in years with Emmanuel Macron to hurtful comparisons.

If convicted, they may be sentenced to a maximum of two years in prison.

Family Impact

Auzière, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, explained how the false claims have caused a "decline of her health" and a "deterioration of her overall existence".

She explained, "Scarcely a day passes when an individual avoids discussing these claims to her."

Auzière highlighted the impact on loved ones, for example her grandchildren being exposed to false assertions like "Your grandmother is not truthful" or "She is actually a man".

"She has no idea how to stop it," Auzière stated. "She didn't run for election, she has not sought public attention, and she is constantly experiencing these attacks."

Legal Battle Context

The legal proceedings is part of an ongoing effort in a extended court case addressing the false claim that the first lady is a man.

They have initiated a legal action in the United States for defamation targeting a political commentator who spread the allegation.

The legal filing states that the claim is totally unfounded and identifies that the person cited is really Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Trial Testimonies

During the trial, a few individuals denied the charges.

• One defendant, now a deputy mayor, stated he "did not mean to inflict damage" and described his posts as humorous.
• A well-known publicist claimed that his social media shares were intended as "satire" and voiced worry that the case could undermine "freedom of expression".
• A third defendant said he posted content since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The inaccurate claim concerning Brigitte Macron's gender circulated to some extent because their marriage has often been a subject of discussion in digital spaces.

She, being two decades older than the president, initially encountered Emmanuel Macron when working as a teacher at the institution he attended.

The connection between them evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in the following year, after her marriage dissolution.

Auzière concluded her account by expressing that the false claims have produced a "storm that never stops" for the first lady.