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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, informed a tribunal in Paris that misleading allegations online—among them the groundless claim that Brigitte Macron was born a man—have severely damaged her mother's personal well-being.

Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, was called as a testifier in the legal proceedings of 10 individuals allegedly involved in online harassment targeting her mother.

Effects on Daily Life

Auzière testified that Brigitte Macron now worries constantly about how she looks, including her attire to her posture, due to the apprehension that any image could be manipulated to support hateful attacks.

"The consequence is that she always must be cautious to what she wears, her posture, no matter what her actions in everyday routine," she informed the judges.

Defendants and Charges

Eight men and two women, in that age range, are facing charges for online harassment. A few had a small social media following, while others were better known.

All is alleged to have spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's personal life. For some, this extended to comparing the disparity in years with Emmanuel Macron to inappropriate terms.

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

Effect on Relatives

She, a family member from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, stated how the baseless rumors have caused a "worsening of her well-being" and a "decline of her quality of life".

She said, "Hardly a day goes by when someone avoids discussing these claims to her."

She highlighted the effects on her relatives, for example her grandchildren learning about malicious statements like "Brigitte is deceptive" or "She is your grandfather".

"She does not know how to stop it," Auzière remarked. "She didn't run for election, she has not sought public attention, and she is permanently experiencing this abuse."

Judicial Proceedings Background

The legal proceedings is the latest phase in a wider judicial fight targeting the baseless theory that the first lady is supposedly male.

The couple have pursued a case in America for defamation against a political commentator who amplified the theory.

The case states that the allegation is totally unfounded and notes that the name mentioned is in fact Brigitte Macron's brother.

Trial Testimonies

Throughout the proceedings, some of the accused disputed the accusations.

• One defendant, holding a public position, stated he "had no purpose to inflict damage" and referred to his online statements as satirical.
• Another defendant stated that his social media shares were meant to be "irony" and highlighted apprehension that the case could endanger "free speech".
• An art gallery owner said he disseminated information since he thought it was an international matter with "impact on the nation".

Relationship Background

The inaccurate claim concerning the first lady's gender gained traction partly because their marriage has long been a subject of discussion online.

The first lady, aged 24 years older than her husband, originally knew the future president when working as a teacher at his secondary school.

Their relationship grew through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in the following year, following her marriage dissolution.

She concluded her statement by expressing that the false claims have produced a "storm that does not cease" for her mother.