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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, informed a judicial body in Paris that inaccurate assertions circulating on the internet—among them the baseless theory that the French first lady had a male birth identity—have severely damaged her mother's personal well-being.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a testifier in the trial of 10 individuals facing charges for internet-based abuse against her mother.

Consequences on Personal Routine

She explained that her mother now feels perpetual anxiety about how she looks, such as the clothes she wears to the way she carries herself, as a result of the concern that any image may be misused to fuel hateful attacks.

"The result is that she constantly must be cautious to what she wears, her body language, no matter what she's doing in her daily life," Auzière informed the judges.

Defendants and Allegations

Eight men and two women, in that age range, are in court for online harassment. Several had a small social media following, while several more were more visible.

All is accused of spreading defamatory content about the first lady's identity. In certain cases, this involved equating her age difference with Emmanuel Macron to inappropriate terms.

If found responsible, they could receive as much as 24 months in jail.

Family Impact

She, a family member from Brigitte Macron's initial union, stated how the inaccurate allegations have resulted in a "worsening of her physical state" and a "decline of her quality of life".

She testified, "Scarcely a day goes by when an individual does not talk these claims to her."

She emphasized the effects on her relatives, including the younger generation being exposed to malicious statements like "Your grandmother is lying" or "Your grandmother is your grandfather".

"She does not know what to do about it," Auzière remarked. "She's not elected, she didn't pursue any of this, and she is constantly experiencing these attacks."

Court Case History

This case represents a recent development in a broader legal battle addressing the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron is male.

They have initiated a US lawsuit over false statements involving a political commentator who promoted the theory.

The case clarifies that the accusation is completely false and identifies that the name mentioned is really her sibling.

Trial Testimonies

During the trial, several defendants disputed the allegations.

• One defendant, serving as a local official, claimed he "did not mean to hurt anyone" and referred to his posts as satirical.
• A well-known publicist claimed that his posts were presented as "irony" and voiced worry that the trial could endanger "freedom of expression".
• Another individual explained he posted content since he thought it was an international matter with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The inaccurate claim regarding the first lady's gender spread partly because their marriage has often been a subject of discussion on the internet.

Brigitte Macron, aged 24 years older than the president, first met Emmanuel Macron when serving as a teacher at his school.

Their relationship developed through theatrical projects, and they wed in the following year, after Brigitte Macron's separation.

She concluded her testimony by saying that the inaccurate allegations have produced a "storm that continues endlessly" for Brigitte Macron.