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The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a Paris court that inaccurate assertions circulating on the internet—including the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron had a male birth identity—have severely damaged her mother's personal well-being.

Auzière, a attorney, served as a witness in the court case of ten people facing charges for digital bullying directed at her mother.

Effects on Daily Life

She testified that her mother now worries constantly about her appearance, including her fashion choices to how she stands, as a result of the concern that every photograph may be misused to fuel negative campaigns.

"The result is that she always has to pay attention to what she wears, her body language, no matter what her activities in her daily life," Auzière told the court.

Defendants and Accusations

The defendants, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for internet-based bullying. A few had a small social media following, while several more were more visible.

Each one is charged with posting harmful statements about Brigitte Macron's personal life. In certain cases, this included comparing her age difference with her husband to hurtful comparisons.

If convicted, they may be sentenced to a maximum of two years in incarceration.

Family Impact

Auzière, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, described how the false claims have caused a "deterioration of her well-being" and a "decline of her overall existence".

She explained, "Not a day passes when a person does not talk this to her."

She highlighted the impact on the family, including her grandchildren learning about hurtful comments like "Your grandmother is deceptive" or "She is your grandfather".

"She does not know what to do about it," she remarked. "She's not elected, she never asked for anything, and she is permanently facing these assaults."

Court Case Context

The Paris trial is part of an ongoing effort in a broader legal battle addressing the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron is supposedly transgender.

The couple have pursued a US lawsuit alleging slander against a political commentator who spread the allegation.

The lawsuit states that the accusation is entirely inaccurate and identifies that the person cited is actually Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Trial Testimonies

Throughout the proceedings, some of the accused denied the allegations.

• A retired business owner, holding a public position, stated he "did not mean to hurt anyone" and referred to his social media content as humorous.
• A fiction writer stated that his online activity were presented as "irony" and expressed concern that the legal action could undermine "the right to speak freely".
• Another individual said he disseminated posts since he thought it was an international matter with "impact on the nation".

Relationship Background

The false theory about the first lady's sex circulated in part because their union has often been a point of interest online.

She, who is significantly older than her husband, initially encountered the future president when serving as a teacher at the institution he attended.

The connection between them grew through theatrical projects, and they married in that year, subsequent to Brigitte Macron's separation.

Auzière concluded her account by stating that the false claims have produced a "whirlwind that does not cease" for Brigitte Macron.