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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, informed a Paris court that false claims circulating on the internet—among them the unfounded rumor that she was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's daily existence.

Auzière, a attorney, served as a testifier in the legal proceedings of 10 individuals accused of internet-based abuse directed at Brigitte Macron.

Consequences on Daily Life

She testified that Brigitte Macron now feels perpetual anxiety about her appearance, from her fashion choices to the way she carries herself, because of the concern that each snapshot might be distorted to fuel hateful attacks.

"The outcome is that she always needs to be careful to what she wears, her body language, irrespective of her actions in day-to-day existence," she told the court.

Accused Individuals and Charges

Ten individuals, aged 41 to 60, are facing charges for online harassment. Several had limited online influence, while the rest were more prominent.

Every defendant is alleged to have posting harmful statements about the first lady's identity. Among them, this involved equating her age difference with Emmanuel Macron to offensive labels.

Upon being found guilty, they could receive as much as 24 months in prison.

Effect on Relatives

She, a daughter from her mother's initial union, explained how the baseless rumors have resulted in a "deterioration of her well-being" and a "worsening of her quality of life".

She explained, "Hardly a day passes when a person fails to mention the issue to her."

She highlighted the repercussions on the family, including the kids being exposed to malicious statements like "Your grandmother is deceptive" or "She was born male".

"She is unsure what to do about it," she testified. "She didn't run for election, she didn't pursue anything, and she is continually facing this abuse."

Court Case Background

The Paris trial is the latest phase in a broader legal battle addressing the inaccurate allegation that Brigitte Macron is male.

The Macrons have initiated a legal action in the United States over false statements targeting a conservative podcaster who spread the theory.

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

Trial Testimonies

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

• A retired business owner, serving as a local official, asserted he "had no purpose to inflict damage" and referred to his online statements as satirical.
• Another defendant stated that his online activity were presented as "irony" and expressed concern that the trial could endanger "free speech".
• A third defendant said he posted content since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "impact on the nation".

Personal History

The inaccurate claim about the first lady's identity spread to some extent because their marriage has long been a point of interest online.

Brigitte Macron, being two decades older than the president, originally knew Emmanuel Macron when working as a educator at his school.

The connection between them developed through drama activities, and they entered into marriage in 2007, after her divorce.

Auzière concluded her statement by expressing that the inaccurate allegations have created a "storm that continues endlessly" for her mother.