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Brigitte Macron's child, Tiphaine Auzière, informed a Paris court that inaccurate assertions circulating on the internet—such as the baseless theory that the French first lady is transgender—have negatively impacted her mother's quality of life.

She, a legal professional, served as a witness in the legal proceedings of ten people allegedly involved in online harassment against Brigitte Macron.

Effects on Everyday Activities

Auzière testified that the first lady now feels perpetual anxiety about how she looks, including her fashion choices to the way she carries herself, as a result of the apprehension that every photograph might be misused to fuel malicious comments.

"The consequence is that she systematically has to pay attention to what she wears, how she holds herself, irrespective of her actions in her daily life," she told the court.

Those on Trial and Accusations

Ten individuals, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for online harassment. Several had a small social media following, while the rest were better known.

Each one is accused of making malicious comments about Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality. For some, this extended to equating the disparity in years with her husband to hurtful comparisons.

If found responsible, they may be sentenced to as much as 24 months in jail.

Effect on Relatives

She, a daughter from her mother's initial union, explained how the inaccurate allegations have led to a "worsening of her health" and a "worsening of her overall existence".

She explained, "Hardly a day goes by when someone fails to mention the issue to her."

Auzière pointed out the impact on her relatives, including the younger generation hearing malicious statements like "Your grandmother is lying" or "She was born male".

"She has no idea what to do about it," she remarked. "She holds no office, she never asked for any of this, and she is continually facing this abuse."

Court Case Context

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

The Macrons have initiated a legal action in the United States alleging slander involving a political commentator who promoted the claim.

The legal filing asserts that the allegation is completely false and identifies that the individual referenced is really her brother.

Trial Testimonies

In court, a few individuals denied the accusations.

• A retired business owner, now a deputy mayor, stated he "did not mean to inflict damage" and described his social media content as humorous.
• Another defendant stated that his online activity were intended as "irony" and highlighted apprehension that the case could undermine "free speech".
• A third defendant testified he disseminated content as he believed it was a worldwide topic with "consequences for France".

Past Context

The false theory regarding Brigitte Macron's gender gained traction in part because the Macrons' relationship has frequently been a topic of comment online.

She, who is 24 years older than her husband, originally knew Emmanuel Macron when working as a teacher at the institution he attended.

Their relationship grew through drama activities, and they entered into marriage in that year, after Brigitte Macron's divorce.

Auzière wrapped up her account by stating that the false claims have created a "chaos that does not cease" for the first lady.