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The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, informed a Paris court that inaccurate assertions online—including the groundless claim that Brigitte Macron was born a man—have negatively impacted her mother's quality of life.

Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a testifier in the court case of 10 individuals accused of online harassment targeting the first lady.

Consequences on Daily Life

Auzière explained that the first lady now feels perpetual anxiety about how she looks, from her attire to her posture, because of the apprehension that any image could be distorted to support negative campaigns.

"The result is that she always needs to be careful to her clothing, her body language, regardless of her activities in her daily life," she told the court.

Defendants and Accusations

Eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, are in court for digital abuse. Some had modest digital reach, while several more were better known.

Every defendant is alleged to have posting harmful statements about Brigitte Macron's identity. In certain cases, this included equating the age gap with Emmanuel Macron to offensive labels.

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

Family Impact

She, a daughter from her mother's first marriage, stated how the false claims have led to a "deterioration of her well-being" and a "worsening of her daily happiness".

She explained, "Not a day goes by when a person avoids discussing these claims to her."

Auzière highlighted the repercussions on her relatives, including the younger generation being exposed to hurtful comments like "Your grandmother is lying" or "She is your grandfather".

"She has no idea how to stop it," Auzière stated. "She didn't run for election, she never asked for public attention, and she is constantly facing these assaults."

Judicial Proceedings History

The Paris trial is part of an ongoing effort in a wider judicial fight addressing the baseless theory that the first lady is supposedly male.

The couple have pursued a US lawsuit for defamation targeting a media personality who promoted the allegation.

The legal filing asserts that the accusation is entirely inaccurate and identifies that the name mentioned is really Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Trial Testimonies

During the trial, a few individuals rejected the charges.

• An individual, serving as a local official, stated he "never intended to hurt anyone" and described his posts as satirical.
• Another defendant argued that his social media shares were meant to be "humor" and highlighted apprehension that the case could threaten "the right to speak freely".
• A third defendant explained he disseminated information as he believed it was a global issue with "consequences for France".

Relationship Background

The baseless rumor concerning the first lady's sex circulated partly because their union has often been a subject of discussion online.

She, who is 24 years older than her husband, originally knew him when she was a instructor at his secondary school.

Their bond developed through drama activities, and they wed in that year, following her divorce.

Auzière wrapped up her testimony by saying that the inaccurate allegations have created a "storm that does not cease" for her mother.