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The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a tribunal in Paris that false claims circulating on the internet—including the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron had a male birth identity—have negatively impacted her mother's quality of life.

Auzière, a legal professional, appeared as a witness in the trial of 10 individuals accused of digital bullying directed at Brigitte Macron.

Impact on Everyday Activities

Auzière testified that Brigitte Macron now is always concerned about how she looks, from the clothes she wears to how she stands, as a result of the apprehension that every photograph may be distorted to support malicious comments.

"The consequence is that she always needs to be careful to what she wears, her posture, irrespective of her actions in everyday routine," she informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Allegations

Eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, are in court for online harassment. A few had limited online influence, while several more were more prominent.

All is charged with spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's personal life. For some, this involved equating the disparity in years with the French president to offensive labels.

Upon being found guilty, they face up to two years in incarceration.

Family Impact

She, a daughter from her mother's previous marriage, stated how the false claims have caused a "decline of her well-being" and a "deterioration of her overall existence".

She testified, "Hardly a day passes when an individual avoids discussing this to her."

Auzière pointed out the impact on loved ones, for example the kids being exposed to malicious statements like "Brigitte is not truthful" or "She was born male".

"She is unsure how to stop it," she testified. "She holds no office, she never asked for anything, and she is constantly experiencing these attacks."

Judicial Proceedings Context

This case represents a recent development in a wider judicial fight against the baseless theory that the first lady is male.

The couple have also filed a legal action in the United States over false statements targeting a political commentator who promoted the theory.

The case asserts that the allegation is completely false and notes that the name mentioned is actually Brigitte Macron's older brother.

Defendants' Responses

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

• A retired business owner, serving as a local official, asserted he "did not mean to cause harm" and described his posts as satirical.
• A fiction writer stated that his posts were meant to be "irony" and voiced worry that the legal action could undermine "the right to speak freely".
• Another individual testified he shared posts since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The baseless rumor about Brigitte Macron's sex gained traction in part because their marriage has long been a subject of discussion in digital spaces.

The first lady, who is significantly older than the president, originally knew Emmanuel Macron when she was a educator at the institution he attended.

Their bond evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in the following year, after her marriage dissolution.

She concluded her statement by expressing that the false claims have produced a "storm that never stops" for the first lady.