False Assertions Online Harmed Brigitte Macron's Quality of Life, Daughter Tells Judges

Brigitte Macron's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a tribunal in Paris that inaccurate assertions circulating on the internet—such as the groundless claim 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 witness in the court case of ten people facing charges for digital bullying against her mother.

Consequences on Personal Routine

She testified that the first lady now feels perpetual anxiety about her demeanor, from her attire to her posture, because of the apprehension that each snapshot might be misused to advance negative campaigns.

"The consequence is that she constantly needs to be careful to her outfits, how she holds herself, no matter what she's doing in everyday routine," she informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Charges

Ten individuals, between 41 and 60 years old, are facing charges for digital abuse. A few had a small social media following, while the rest were more prominent.

Every defendant is accused of posting harmful statements about Brigitte Macron's identity. Among them, this extended to comparing the disparity in years with her husband to hurtful comparisons.

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

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, one of three children from her mother's first marriage, described how the false claims have caused a "deterioration of her physical state" and a "decline of her quality of life".

She said, "Not a day passes when someone fails to mention the issue to her."

Auzière highlighted the effects on her relatives, such as the younger generation hearing malicious statements like "Your grandmother is lying" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She is unsure how to stop it," she testified. "She's not elected, she didn't pursue anything, and she is permanently subjected to this abuse."

Judicial Proceedings Background

The legal proceedings represents a recent development in a wider judicial fight addressing the baseless theory that the first lady is male.

They have initiated a case in America for defamation involving a conservative podcaster who promoted the claim.

The case states that the claim is totally unfounded and notes that the person cited is really Brigitte Macron's older brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

Throughout the proceedings, some of the accused disputed the accusations.

• A retired business owner, now a deputy mayor, claimed he "had no purpose to hurt anyone" and referred to his posts as satirical.
• Another defendant stated that his online activity were intended as "irony" and expressed concern that the legal action could endanger "freedom of expression".
• An art gallery owner testified he shared content since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "implications for the country".

Relationship Background

The baseless rumor about Brigitte Macron's sex gained traction to some extent because their union has frequently been a topic of comment on the internet.

Brigitte Macron, who is 24 years older than Emmanuel Macron, initially encountered Emmanuel Macron when working as a teacher at his secondary school.

Their relationship evolved through theatrical projects, and they entered into marriage in the following year, after her marriage dissolution.

She concluded her testimony by stating that the inaccurate allegations have produced a "chaos that never stops" for Brigitte Macron.