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The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a judicial body in Paris that misleading allegations circulating on the internet—among them the unfounded rumor that she was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's personal well-being.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, was called as a testifier in the trial of 10 individuals facing charges for digital bullying targeting the first lady.

Impact on Daily Life

Auzière testified that Brigitte Macron now feels perpetual anxiety about how she looks, from her attire to her posture, due to the fear that every photograph may be distorted to fuel malicious comments.

"The consequence is that she systematically needs to be careful to her outfits, her body language, regardless of she's doing in everyday routine," Auzière testified.

Accused Individuals and Allegations

The defendants, in that age range, are in court for internet-based bullying. Several had a small social media following, while the rest were more prominent.

Every defendant is charged with spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality. In certain cases, this involved equating the disparity in years with Emmanuel Macron to hurtful comparisons.

If convicted, they face as much as 24 months in jail.

Family Impact

She, a family member from her mother's initial union, explained how the baseless rumors have resulted in a "decline of her physical state" and a "deterioration of her quality of life".

She explained, "Not a day passes when someone fails to mention these claims to her."

Auzière emphasized the impact on loved ones, for example the kids hearing hurtful comments like "Brigitte is lying" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She does not know how to stop it," she stated. "She didn't run for election, she has not sought public attention, and she is permanently experiencing this abuse."

Judicial Proceedings Context

The legal proceedings represents a recent development in a broader legal battle against the inaccurate allegation that she is transgender.

The Macrons have pursued a case in America for defamation involving a conservative podcaster who spread the allegation.

The legal filing clarifies that the claim is entirely inaccurate and identifies that the individual referenced is actually Brigitte Macron's older brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

Throughout the proceedings, some of the accused disputed the accusations.

• One defendant, serving as a local official, asserted he "had no purpose to hurt anyone" and described his social media content as ironic.
• Another defendant argued that his social media shares were meant to be "satire" and voiced worry that the legal action could endanger "free speech".
• An art gallery owner explained he disseminated information because he felt it was a worldwide topic with "consequences for France".

Past Context

The inaccurate claim about Brigitte Macron's gender spread partly because the Macrons' relationship has frequently been a subject of discussion on the internet.

She, aged 24 years older than Emmanuel Macron, initially encountered the future president when serving as a teacher at his school.

Their bond evolved through theatrical projects, and they entered into marriage in 2007, subsequent to Brigitte Macron's marriage dissolution.

Auzière concluded her testimony by expressing that the inaccurate allegations have produced a "chaos that continues endlessly" for the first lady.