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Brigitte Macron's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a tribunal in Paris that false claims circulating on the internet—including the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron had a male birth identity—have severely damaged her mother's quality of life.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, served as a witness in the trial of 10 individuals accused of internet-based abuse directed at the first lady.

Impact on Personal Routine

Auzière stated that the first lady now feels perpetual anxiety about her demeanor, from the clothes she wears to the way she carries herself, as a result of the concern that each snapshot might be distorted to support malicious comments.

"The result is that she constantly needs to be careful to what she wears, her body language, irrespective of her actions in everyday routine," she testified.

Those on Trial and Charges

The defendants, between 41 and 60 years old, are facing charges for online harassment. Several had modest digital reach, while others were more prominent.

Each one is charged with spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality. For some, this included linking her age difference with Emmanuel Macron to inappropriate terms.

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

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, a family member from Brigitte Macron's previous marriage, described how the false claims have resulted in a "worsening of her well-being" and a "deterioration of her daily happiness".

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

Auzière emphasized the effects on loved ones, for example her grandchildren learning about false assertions like "Brigitte is not truthful" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She has no idea how to end it," she remarked. "She didn't run for election, she has not sought anything, and she is continually facing these assaults."

Legal Battle History

The Paris trial is part of an ongoing effort in a wider judicial fight targeting the inaccurate allegation that she is transgender.

The couple have pursued a US lawsuit for defamation against a media personality who spread the theory.

The lawsuit states that the accusation is entirely inaccurate and notes that the person cited is really her sibling.

Trial Testimonies

During the trial, several defendants denied the accusations.

• An individual, serving as a local official, claimed he "never intended to inflict damage" and described his posts as ironic.
• A well-known publicist stated that his posts were presented as "irony" and expressed concern that the case could threaten "freedom of expression".
• A third defendant explained he posted content because he felt it was an international matter with "implications for the country".

Past Context

The baseless rumor regarding the first lady's identity spread in part because their union has long been a point of interest in digital spaces.

The first lady, who is significantly older than the president, initially encountered him when serving as a educator at his school.

Their bond evolved through drama activities, and they entered into marriage in that year, following Brigitte Macron's marriage dissolution.

She wrapped up her testimony by saying that the baseless rumors have produced a "storm that continues endlessly" for the first lady.