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The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a Paris court that inaccurate assertions online—including the baseless theory that the French first lady was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's personal well-being.

Auzière, a legal professional, served as a testifier in the court case of a group of defendants facing charges for digital bullying directed at the first lady.

Impact on Daily Life

Auzière explained that her mother now feels perpetual anxiety about her appearance, from her fashion choices to how she stands, due to the fear that any image might be distorted to fuel negative campaigns.

"The consequence is that she constantly needs to be careful to her clothing, her posture, regardless of her actions in day-to-day existence," she informed the judges.

Those on Trial and Allegations

Ten individuals, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for digital abuse. Several had a small social media following, while others were more visible.

Every defendant is accused of posting harmful statements about Brigitte Macron's identity. In certain cases, this extended to linking the age gap with Emmanuel Macron to inappropriate terms.

If convicted, they face as much as 24 months in jail.

Consequences for Loved Ones

She, one of three children from her mother's previous marriage, stated how the inaccurate allegations have caused a "deterioration of her well-being" and a "deterioration of her quality of life".

She testified, "Not a day passes when someone does not talk these claims to her."

She pointed out the effects on loved ones, for example her grandchildren learning about hurtful comments like "Your grandmother is lying" or "She is actually a man".

"She has no idea how to stop it," she testified. "She didn't run for election, she never asked for any of this, and she is permanently subjected to these assaults."

Court Case Context

This case is the latest phase in a wider judicial fight targeting the baseless theory that she is transgender.

They have pursued a case in America for defamation targeting a political commentator who amplified the allegation.

The lawsuit asserts that the accusation is completely false and notes that the individual referenced is actually Brigitte Macron's older brother.

Defendants' Responses

During the trial, several defendants denied the allegations.

• A retired business owner, now a deputy mayor, claimed he "did not mean to inflict damage" and described his social media content as humorous.
• A well-known publicist claimed that his posts were meant to be "irony" and expressed concern that the trial could undermine "free speech".
• Another individual testified he disseminated information since he thought it was a global issue with "impact on the nation".

Personal History

The inaccurate claim about the first lady's identity spread to some extent because the Macrons' relationship has long been a point of interest in digital spaces.

The first lady, who is 24 years older than her husband, first met him when serving as a instructor at his school.

The connection between them evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in the following year, subsequent to Brigitte Macron's divorce.

Auzière finished her account by expressing that the inaccurate allegations have caused a "chaos that continues endlessly" for the first lady.