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The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, informed a tribunal in Paris that inaccurate assertions circulating on the internet—such as the groundless claim that the French first lady is transgender—have significantly harmed her mother's daily existence.

She, a legal professional, appeared as a testifier in the legal proceedings of a group of defendants accused of internet-based abuse directed at her mother.

Consequences on Personal Routine

Auzière testified that Brigitte Macron now worries constantly about her demeanor, from the clothes she wears to her posture, because of the concern that every photograph might be distorted to fuel negative campaigns.

"The outcome is that she systematically has to pay attention to her clothing, her body language, irrespective of she's doing in her daily life," Auzière told the court.

Defendants and Charges

Eight men and two women, in that age range, are on trial for digital abuse. A few had a small social media following, while the rest were more prominent.

Every defendant is charged with spreading defamatory content about the first lady's gender and sexuality. For some, this included equating the age gap with the French president to inappropriate terms.

If convicted, they could receive a maximum of two years in jail.

Effect on Relatives

She, one of three children from Brigitte Macron's initial union, explained how the baseless rumors have caused a "deterioration of her health" and a "deterioration of her overall existence".

She explained, "Not a day passes when a person fails to mention the issue to her."

She pointed out the repercussions on her relatives, such as her grandchildren being exposed to malicious statements like "Your grandmother is not truthful" or "Your grandmother is your grandfather".

"She is unsure what to do about it," she remarked. "She holds no office, she never asked for public attention, and she is continually facing these attacks."

Court Case Background

The legal proceedings represents a recent development in a extended court case against the false claim that the first lady is supposedly male.

The couple have also filed a legal action in the United States alleging slander against a media personality who promoted the theory.

The legal filing clarifies that the allegation is totally unfounded and identifies that the individual referenced is really her sibling.

Accused Individuals' Statements

In court, several defendants disputed the charges.

• An individual, now a deputy mayor, stated he "never intended to cause harm" and referred to his online statements as humorous.
• Another defendant claimed that his social media shares were meant to be "irony" and highlighted apprehension that the trial could endanger "free speech".
• Another individual explained he shared information because he felt it was a global issue with "consequences for France".

Past Context

The baseless rumor concerning Brigitte Macron's identity gained traction in part because their marriage has often been a topic of comment on the internet.

Brigitte Macron, being 24 years older than her husband, originally knew the future president when working as a educator at the institution he attended.

Their relationship developed through the school's theatre programme, and they married in the following year, subsequent to her divorce.

She wrapped up her statement by stating that the inaccurate allegations have produced a "whirlwind that does not cease" for her mother.