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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, informed a Paris court that false claims circulating on the internet—such as the baseless theory that the French first lady was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's personal well-being.

Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a testifier in the court case of ten people facing charges for digital bullying directed at the first lady.

Consequences on Personal Routine

She testified that the first lady now is always concerned about her appearance, such as her attire to how she stands, due to the concern that any image may be distorted to advance malicious comments.

"The outcome is that she systematically has to pay attention to her outfits, her body language, irrespective of her actions in her daily life," she informed the judges.

Those on Trial and Allegations

The defendants, between 41 and 60 years old, are in court for internet-based bullying. Several had limited online influence, while several more were better known.

Each one is accused of spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's personal life. In certain cases, this included linking her age difference with Emmanuel Macron to inappropriate terms.

If found responsible, they may be sentenced to up to two years in prison.

Consequences for Loved Ones

Auzière, one of three children from her mother's first marriage, explained how the false claims have caused a "worsening of her well-being" and a "worsening of her daily happiness".

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

She highlighted the impact on loved ones, including her grandchildren being exposed to false assertions like "Brigitte is not truthful" or "She was born male".

"She does not know how to stop it," she stated. "She's not elected, she has not sought public attention, and she is constantly facing this abuse."

Judicial Proceedings History

This case is part of an ongoing effort in a extended court case addressing the false claim that the first lady is male.

They have also filed a case in America for defamation targeting a conservative podcaster who promoted the claim.

The case asserts that the accusation is totally unfounded and identifies that the name mentioned is actually Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Accused Individuals' Statements

In court, some of the accused rejected the charges.

• An individual, now a deputy mayor, asserted he "had no purpose to cause harm" and referred to his online statements as satirical.
• Another defendant claimed that his social media shares were meant to be "humor" and expressed concern that the legal action could threaten "the right to speak freely".
• An art gallery owner said he shared information since he thought it was an international matter with "consequences for France".

Personal History

The false theory regarding the first lady's gender circulated partly because their marriage has often been a point of interest on the internet.

The first lady, aged significantly older than Emmanuel Macron, initially encountered him when serving as a educator at his secondary school.

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

She concluded her testimony by saying that the false claims have caused a "storm that never stops" for the first lady.