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The French first lady's daughter, her daughter, informed a tribunal in Paris that false claims circulating on the internet—including the baseless theory that she was born a man—have severely damaged her mother's daily existence.

Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, served as a testifier in the trial of 10 individuals facing charges for digital bullying targeting the first lady.

Consequences on Everyday Activities

Auzière explained that her mother now worries constantly about her demeanor, such as her fashion choices to her posture, because of the apprehension that each snapshot could be misused to fuel hateful attacks.

"The consequence is that she constantly has to pay attention to her outfits, how she holds herself, regardless of her actions in everyday routine," she testified.

Defendants and Allegations

Eight men and two women, between 41 and 60 years old, are on trial for online harassment. Several had a small social media following, while others were more prominent.

All is charged with spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's personal life. For some, this involved equating the age gap with Emmanuel Macron to inappropriate terms.

If convicted, they could receive up to two years in prison.

Consequences for Loved Ones

Auzière, one of three children from her mother's previous marriage, explained how the inaccurate allegations have caused a "decline of her physical state" and a "worsening of her quality of life".

She explained, "Scarcely a day passes when someone fails to mention the issue to her."

Auzière highlighted the impact on the family, for example the kids learning about malicious statements like "Your grandmother is not truthful" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She does not know how to end it," she stated. "She's not elected, she didn't pursue public attention, and she is constantly facing these attacks."

Legal Battle Background

The Paris trial represents a recent development in a wider judicial fight against the false claim that she was transgender.

They have pursued a case in America for defamation targeting a conservative podcaster who promoted the theory.

The lawsuit states that the claim is totally unfounded and points out that the individual referenced is actually Brigitte Macron's older brother.

Defendants' Responses

During the trial, several defendants rejected the charges.

• An individual, holding a public position, claimed he "did not mean to cause harm" and described his social media content as ironic.
• A fiction writer claimed that his online activity were intended as "satire" and voiced worry that the legal action could undermine "freedom of expression".
• A third defendant explained he posted posts because he felt it was a worldwide topic with "implications for the country".

Personal History

The inaccurate claim concerning the first lady's sex gained traction in part because the Macrons' relationship has often been a subject of discussion on the internet.

The first lady, who is 24 years older than Emmanuel Macron, initially encountered him when serving as a teacher at the institution he attended.

The connection between them developed through drama activities, and they entered into marriage in the following year, subsequent to Brigitte Macron's separation.

Auzière finished her statement by stating that the false claims have caused a "chaos that does not cease" for Brigitte Macron.