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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a Paris court that inaccurate assertions circulating on the internet—such as the groundless claim that Brigitte Macron is transgender—have negatively impacted her mother's personal well-being.

Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, was called as a witness in the court case of a group of defendants accused of digital bullying directed at the first lady.

Effects on Personal Routine

She testified that her mother now is always concerned about her demeanor, from the clothes she wears to the way she carries herself, because of the concern that any image may be manipulated to fuel negative campaigns.

"The outcome is that she systematically needs to be careful to what she wears, her body language, regardless of her actions in everyday routine," she testified.

Accused Individuals and Accusations

Eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for digital abuse. Some had modest digital reach, while the rest were more prominent.

Each one is alleged to have posting harmful statements about Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality. For some, this involved equating the disparity in years with Emmanuel Macron to hurtful comparisons.

If convicted, they could receive a maximum of two years in prison.

Family Impact

She, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, described how the baseless rumors have caused a "decline of her well-being" and a "deterioration of her overall existence".

She explained, "Not a day passes when a person avoids discussing this to her."

She emphasized the effects on the family, for example the younger generation hearing hurtful comments like "Your grandmother is lying" or "Your grandmother is actually a man".

"She is unsure how to stop it," Auzière remarked. "She holds no office, she never asked for any of this, and she is permanently subjected to this abuse."

Legal Battle Background

The Paris trial represents a recent development in a extended court case against the false claim that the first lady is supposedly a man.

They have also filed a US lawsuit for defamation targeting a conservative podcaster who spread the claim.

The lawsuit asserts that the claim is entirely inaccurate and points out that the person cited is actually her older brother.

Defendants' Responses

During the trial, some of the accused denied the allegations.

• A retired business owner, serving as a local official, asserted he "did not mean to hurt anyone" and referred to his online statements as satirical.
• A fiction writer claimed that his posts were intended as "humor" and expressed concern that the case could endanger "the right to speak freely".
• A third defendant testified he posted content because he felt it was a worldwide topic with "implications for the country".

Personal History

The false theory regarding Brigitte Macron's identity circulated in part because their marriage has long been a point of interest in digital spaces.

She, who is significantly older than Emmanuel Macron, first met the future president when she was a educator at his secondary school.

The connection between them evolved through drama activities, and they wed in 2007, following her marriage dissolution.

She finished her statement by saying that the false claims have created a "chaos that does not cease" for her mother.