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The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a tribunal in Paris that misleading allegations circulating on the internet—such as the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron had a male birth identity—have significantly harmed her mother's quality of life.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, served as a testifier in the legal proceedings of a group of defendants allegedly involved in digital bullying targeting her mother.

Impact on Everyday Activities

Auzière testified that her mother now is always concerned about her appearance, including her fashion choices to how she stands, as a result of the apprehension that any image could be manipulated to support malicious comments.

"The consequence is that she always must be cautious to her outfits, her posture, no matter what her activities in day-to-day existence," she told the court.

Those on Trial and Allegations

Ten individuals, in that age range, are in court for digital abuse. A few had limited online influence, while the rest were more visible.

All is alleged to have posting harmful statements about Brigitte Macron's personal life. Among them, this involved equating the disparity in years with Emmanuel Macron to inappropriate terms.

Upon being found guilty, they may be sentenced to as much as 24 months in prison.

Consequences for Loved Ones

She, a daughter from her mother's previous marriage, stated how the false claims have caused a "decline of her health" and a "decline of her quality of life".

She explained, "Not a day passes when someone fails to mention these claims to her."

She emphasized the impact on loved ones, for example the kids hearing malicious statements like "Brigitte is deceptive" or "She was born male".

"She has no idea what to do about it," Auzière remarked. "She didn't run for election, she has not sought public attention, and she is constantly subjected to these assaults."

Legal Battle History

The Paris trial is part of an ongoing effort in a wider judicial fight targeting the baseless theory that she was transgender.

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

The lawsuit asserts that the claim is completely false and notes that the person cited is actually her brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

In court, some of the accused disputed the accusations.

• A retired business owner, holding a public position, stated he "had no purpose to cause harm" and described his online statements as ironic.
• A fiction writer argued that his social media shares were intended as "humor" and expressed concern that the trial could undermine "free speech".
• An art gallery owner explained he disseminated posts because he felt it was a worldwide topic with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The false theory regarding the first lady's identity gained traction to some extent because the Macrons' relationship has frequently been a point of interest in digital spaces.

The first lady, who is 24 years older than Emmanuel Macron, initially encountered the future president when she was a instructor at his secondary school.

The connection between them developed through the school's theatre programme, and they married in that year, after her divorce.

Auzière finished her account by saying that the inaccurate allegations have produced a "chaos that never stops" for Brigitte Macron.