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The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, informed a tribunal in Paris that false claims circulating on the internet—among them the groundless claim that Brigitte Macron is transgender—have severely damaged her mother's personal well-being.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, served as a witness in the court case of ten people allegedly involved in internet-based abuse directed at her mother.

Effects on Daily Life

Auzière testified that her mother now feels perpetual anxiety about her demeanor, such as her attire to the way she carries herself, because of the fear that any image could be distorted to support malicious comments.

"The result is that she systematically must be cautious to her outfits, how she holds herself, no matter what she's doing in her daily life," Auzière told the court.

Defendants and Charges

The defendants, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for internet-based bullying. Some had a small social media following, while others were more visible.

Each one is accused of posting harmful statements about the first lady's identity. For some, this extended to equating her age difference with her husband to hurtful comparisons.

If found responsible, they could receive as much as 24 months in incarceration.

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's initial union, stated how the baseless rumors have led to a "decline of her health" and a "decline of her overall existence".

She testified, "Hardly a day goes by when a person avoids discussing these claims to her."

She highlighted the effects on loved ones, such as the younger generation learning about malicious statements like "She is deceptive" or "She was born male".

"She has no idea what to do about it," Auzière stated. "She didn't run for election, she never asked for anything, and she is constantly facing these attacks."

Judicial Proceedings Context

This case is the latest phase in a extended court case addressing the false claim that she is supposedly transgender.

They have initiated a legal action in the United States over false statements targeting a media personality who spread the claim.

The case states that the claim is entirely inaccurate and points out that the individual referenced is in fact Brigitte Macron's older brother.

Defendants' Responses

Throughout the proceedings, several defendants denied the accusations.

• An individual, serving as a local official, asserted he "never intended to hurt anyone" and referred to his social media content as ironic.
• A well-known publicist stated that his social media shares were presented as "humor" and voiced worry that the trial could endanger "freedom of expression".
• A third defendant testified he shared content since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "implications for the country".

Personal History

The inaccurate claim regarding Brigitte Macron's gender gained traction to some extent because their marriage has frequently been a subject of discussion online.

She, who is two decades older than her husband, first met the future president when serving as a educator at his secondary school.

Their relationship evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they entered into marriage in the following year, following Brigitte Macron's divorce.

She wrapped up her statement by expressing that the baseless rumors have produced a "chaos that never stops" for the first lady.