False Claims Online Damaged Brigitte Macron's Well-being, Child Informs Court

The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, informed a Paris court that misleading allegations circulating on the internet—including the unfounded rumor that Brigitte Macron was born a man—have severely damaged her mother's daily existence.

Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a testifier in the trial of 10 individuals allegedly involved in digital bullying directed at her mother.

Impact on Daily Life

She testified that Brigitte Macron now worries constantly about her appearance, from the clothes she wears to her posture, as a result of the fear that each snapshot may be misused to support negative campaigns.

"The outcome is that she systematically must be cautious to her clothing, how she holds herself, regardless of her activities in day-to-day existence," Auzière informed the judges.

Defendants and Allegations

Eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for digital abuse. Several had limited online influence, while others were more prominent.

Every defendant is charged with making malicious comments about the first lady's identity. In certain cases, this involved linking the disparity in years with her husband to offensive labels.

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

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, explained how the inaccurate allegations have caused a "worsening of her physical state" and a "decline of her daily happiness".

She explained, "Not a day passes when an individual fails to mention this to her."

She highlighted the repercussions on loved ones, including the kids learning about malicious statements like "Your grandmother is lying" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She does not know what to do about it," she stated. "She's not elected, she never asked for any of this, and she is constantly facing this abuse."

Legal Battle Background

The Paris trial is part of an ongoing effort in a wider judicial fight addressing the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron was a man.

The Macrons have also filed a legal action in the United States for defamation involving a political commentator who spread the claim.

The legal filing states that the claim is totally unfounded and points out that the name mentioned is actually her older brother.

Defendants' Responses

Throughout the proceedings, several defendants rejected the accusations.

• One defendant, now a deputy mayor, stated he "did not mean to inflict damage" and described his social media content as ironic.
• Another defendant claimed that his online activity were meant to be "satire" and highlighted apprehension that the case could endanger "free speech".
• An art gallery owner explained he posted content because he felt it was a global issue with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The baseless rumor regarding the first lady's gender gained traction to some extent because the Macrons' relationship has often been a topic of comment in digital spaces.

She, who is 24 years older than the president, first met Emmanuel Macron when she was a educator at his secondary school.

Their relationship grew through drama activities, and they wed in that year, subsequent to her separation.

She wrapped up her testimony by saying that the false claims have created a "storm that continues endlessly" for her mother.