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The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a tribunal in Paris that inaccurate assertions online—such as the groundless claim that she was born a man—have severely damaged her mother's quality of life.

Auzière, a legal professional, appeared as a testifier in the court case of a group of defendants facing charges for online harassment against the first lady.

Consequences on Personal Routine

She stated that her mother now is always concerned about her appearance, such as her fashion choices to how she stands, because of the apprehension that each snapshot may be manipulated to support negative campaigns.

"The consequence is that she always has to pay attention to her clothing, her posture, irrespective of she's doing in everyday routine," Auzière told the court.

Defendants and Charges

Eight men and two women, in that age range, are facing charges for internet-based bullying. A few had a small social media following, while others were more prominent.

Every defendant is accused of posting harmful statements about Brigitte Macron's personal life. For some, this included comparing her age difference with her husband to offensive labels.

If convicted, they may be sentenced to as much as 24 months in jail.

Consequences for Loved Ones

Auzière, one of three children from her mother's previous marriage, explained how the baseless rumors have led to a "decline of her well-being" and a "deterioration of her daily happiness".

She said, "Hardly a day passes when someone avoids discussing this to her."

She pointed out the effects on the family, such as the kids learning about false assertions like "Brigitte is deceptive" or "She is your grandfather".

"She does not know how to stop it," she testified. "She didn't run for election, she didn't pursue public attention, and she is permanently facing these attacks."

Judicial Proceedings History

This case is part of an ongoing effort in a wider judicial fight against the inaccurate allegation that she was transgender.

The couple have pursued a legal action in the United States alleging slander targeting a political commentator who spread the theory.

The case asserts that the claim is completely false and identifies that the person cited is actually Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Defendants' Responses

In court, some of the accused disputed the accusations.

• A retired business owner, now a deputy mayor, stated he "had no purpose to cause harm" and described his posts as ironic.
• Another defendant argued that his online activity were presented as "satire" and voiced worry that the case could undermine "freedom of expression".
• A third defendant testified he disseminated content because he felt it was a worldwide topic with "implications for the country".

Relationship Background

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

Brigitte Macron, who is significantly older than Emmanuel Macron, first met the future president when she was a teacher at the institution he attended.

The connection between them developed through the school's theatre programme, and they entered into marriage in the following year, after Brigitte Macron's marriage dissolution.

She wrapped up her testimony by stating that the baseless rumors have created a "chaos that never stops" for her mother.