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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a tribunal in Paris that inaccurate assertions circulating on the internet—such as the groundless claim that she is transgender—have negatively impacted her mother's quality of life.

Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a witness in the court case of a group of defendants facing charges for digital bullying against Brigitte Macron.

Impact on Everyday Activities

Auzière explained that her mother now feels perpetual anxiety about her demeanor, such as the clothes she wears to how she stands, as a result of the apprehension that each snapshot may be misused to advance malicious comments.

"The result is that she constantly must be cautious to her clothing, her body language, no matter what her actions in everyday routine," she told the court.

Accused Individuals and Allegations

Ten individuals, aged 41 to 60, are facing charges for digital abuse. Several had modest digital reach, while the rest were more prominent.

Every defendant is alleged to have making malicious comments about Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality. For some, this extended to comparing her age difference with the French president to hurtful comparisons.

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

Effect on Relatives

She, a family member from Brigitte Macron's previous marriage, described how the false claims have resulted in a "worsening of her well-being" and a "decline of her quality of life".

She said, "Hardly a day passes when a person fails to mention this to her."

Auzière emphasized the repercussions on her relatives, for example the younger generation being exposed to false assertions like "Your grandmother is deceptive" or "She was born male".

"She is unsure how to end it," she stated. "She holds no office, she has not sought anything, and she is continually subjected to these assaults."

Legal Battle Background

This case is part of an ongoing effort in a wider judicial fight addressing the baseless theory that she is a man.

They have also filed a US lawsuit for defamation involving a political commentator who promoted the theory.

The legal filing clarifies that the accusation 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 allegations.

• One defendant, holding a public position, asserted he "had no purpose to cause harm" and referred to his online statements as satirical.
• A well-known publicist stated that his posts were presented as "irony" and voiced worry that the legal action could undermine "free speech".
• A third defendant explained he shared posts since he thought it was an international matter with "implications for the country".

Relationship Background

The baseless rumor concerning the first lady's sex spread to some extent because their union has frequently been a subject of discussion online.

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

The connection between them developed through the school's theatre programme, and they married in 2007, subsequent to her separation.

Auzière finished her account by saying that the inaccurate allegations have caused a "whirlwind that continues endlessly" for Brigitte Macron.