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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a Paris court that false claims spread through social media—including the baseless theory that the French first lady was born a man—have negatively impacted her mother's personal well-being.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a testifier in the trial of 10 individuals accused of online harassment targeting the first lady.

Consequences on Personal Routine

She stated that the first lady now worries constantly about how she looks, including her attire to the way she carries herself, as a result of the fear that each snapshot might be misused to support hateful attacks.

"The result is that she constantly needs to be careful to what she wears, her body language, irrespective of her activities in day-to-day existence," she informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Accusations

Eight men and two women, in that age range, are on trial for internet-based bullying. Some had limited online influence, while the rest were more visible.

Each one is alleged to have spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's identity. For some, this extended to linking the disparity in years with the French president to hurtful comparisons.

If convicted, they face up to two years in jail.

Family Impact

She, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, explained how the false claims have caused a "worsening of her physical state" and a "decline of her quality of life".

She testified, "Not a day goes by when a person avoids discussing the issue to her."

She emphasized the repercussions on the family, including the younger generation being exposed to hurtful comments like "She is deceptive" or "Your grandmother is actually a man".

"She does not know how to stop it," Auzière remarked. "She didn't run for election, she never asked for anything, and she is permanently experiencing these assaults."

Legal Battle Context

This case is the latest phase in a broader legal battle targeting the false claim that she was male.

The Macrons have initiated a case in America for defamation involving a media personality who spread the allegation.

The case states that the claim is completely false and notes that the name mentioned is actually Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Defendants' Responses

During the trial, a few individuals denied the accusations.

• One defendant, serving as a local official, claimed he "never intended to cause harm" and described his online statements as humorous.
• Another defendant argued that his posts were intended as "satire" and expressed concern that the trial could threaten "freedom of expression".
• Another individual explained he shared content as he believed it was a global issue with "consequences for France".

Personal History

The false theory concerning the first lady's gender spread in part because their marriage has frequently been a subject of discussion in digital spaces.

Brigitte Macron, aged 24 years older than the president, originally knew the future president when she was a teacher at his school.

The connection between them evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they entered into marriage in 2007, following her separation.

She wrapped up her statement by expressing that the inaccurate allegations have caused a "chaos that continues endlessly" for the first lady.