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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, informed a Paris court that misleading allegations circulating on the internet—including the groundless claim that Brigitte Macron had a male birth identity—have severely damaged her mother's quality of life.

She, a legal professional, served as a testifier in the legal proceedings of 10 individuals allegedly involved in digital bullying against the first lady.

Impact on Daily Life

She stated that the first lady now feels perpetual anxiety about how she looks, from her attire to the way she carries herself, because of the concern that any image could be misused to advance malicious comments.

"The result is that she constantly has to pay attention to what she wears, her body language, regardless of her activities in her daily life," she testified.

Accused Individuals and Charges

The defendants, aged 41 to 60, are in court for digital abuse. A few had a small social media following, while the rest were more visible.

Every defendant is alleged to have posting harmful statements about the first lady's gender and sexuality. In certain cases, this involved linking the disparity in years with her husband to hurtful comparisons.

If found responsible, they could receive up to two years in incarceration.

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, a daughter from her mother's initial union, explained how the baseless rumors have resulted in a "deterioration of her physical state" and a "deterioration of her daily happiness".

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

Auzière emphasized the effects on the family, such as the younger generation being exposed to hurtful comments like "Your grandmother is lying" or "Your grandmother is your grandfather".

"She is unsure what to do about it," Auzière remarked. "She's not elected, she didn't pursue public attention, and she is continually experiencing these attacks."

Legal Battle History

The Paris trial is part of an ongoing effort in a wider judicial fight against the inaccurate allegation that the first lady was a man.

They have pursued a legal action in the United States alleging slander against a media personality who spread the theory.

The legal filing clarifies that the allegation is totally unfounded and identifies that the person cited is actually Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Accused Individuals' Statements

In court, a few individuals disputed the accusations.

• An individual, now a deputy mayor, asserted he "never intended to cause harm" and referred to his posts as ironic.
• A well-known publicist stated that his social media shares were meant to be "satire" and voiced worry that the trial could threaten "the right to speak freely".
• Another individual said he posted information because he felt it was a worldwide topic with "impact on the nation".

Relationship Background

The false theory regarding the first lady's gender spread partly because the Macrons' relationship has long been a topic of comment online.

The first lady, who is two decades older than Emmanuel Macron, originally knew him when she was a instructor at his secondary school.

Their bond grew through theatrical projects, and they wed in 2007, after Brigitte Macron's divorce.

Auzière finished her testimony by expressing that the false claims have produced a "chaos that never stops" for Brigitte Macron.