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The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a tribunal in Paris that false claims circulating on the internet—among them the groundless claim that Brigitte Macron had a male birth identity—have negatively impacted her mother's quality of life.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a testifier in the court case of 10 individuals allegedly involved in digital bullying targeting Brigitte Macron.

Effects on Everyday Activities

She testified that Brigitte Macron now feels perpetual anxiety about her appearance, including her fashion choices to how she stands, because of the apprehension that every photograph may be manipulated to fuel negative campaigns.

"The outcome is that she systematically has to pay attention to what she wears, her body language, irrespective of her activities in her daily life," Auzière informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Allegations

Ten individuals, in that age range, are facing charges for online harassment. Several had a small social media following, while others were more visible.

Each one is charged with making malicious comments about Brigitte Macron's identity. Among them, this included comparing her age difference with the French president to offensive labels.

Upon being found guilty, they may be sentenced to up to two years in incarceration.

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's initial union, described how the baseless rumors have resulted in a "deterioration of her health" and a "decline of her overall existence".

She said, "Hardly a day passes when a person fails to mention the issue to her."

She pointed out the effects on loved ones, including her grandchildren learning about false assertions like "Your grandmother is not truthful" or "Your grandmother is your grandfather".

"She does not know how to end it," she stated. "She holds no office, she never asked for public attention, and she is permanently facing these assaults."

Legal Battle Background

The Paris trial represents a recent development in a broader legal battle against the inaccurate allegation that the first lady was male.

They have also filed a US lawsuit over false statements targeting a media personality who spread the allegation.

The lawsuit states that the allegation is entirely inaccurate and identifies that the name mentioned is actually Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Defendants' Responses

Throughout the proceedings, several defendants denied the accusations.

• An individual, serving as a local official, asserted he "did not mean to hurt anyone" and described his posts as ironic.
• Another defendant argued that his posts were intended as "irony" and expressed concern that the legal action could endanger "the right to speak freely".
• A third defendant said he disseminated content as he believed it was an international matter with "implications for the country".

Past Context

The false theory regarding Brigitte Macron's identity spread to some extent because their union has frequently been a topic of comment online.

The first lady, who is significantly older than her husband, originally knew Emmanuel Macron when serving as a teacher at his secondary school.

The connection between them developed through the school's theatre programme, and they entered into marriage in 2007, subsequent to Brigitte Macron's divorce.

She concluded her statement by saying that the baseless rumors have created a "storm that does not cease" for the first lady.