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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a tribunal in Paris that inaccurate assertions circulating on the internet—such as the unfounded rumor that she is transgender—have significantly harmed her mother's daily existence.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a witness in the legal proceedings of a group of defendants facing charges for internet-based abuse against the first lady.

Impact on Everyday Activities

She stated that Brigitte Macron now is always concerned about her demeanor, from her fashion choices to how she stands, due to the fear that every photograph may be distorted to advance malicious comments.

"The outcome is that she systematically has to pay attention to her clothing, her body language, irrespective of her actions in everyday routine," Auzière testified.

Defendants and Allegations

The defendants, in that age range, are facing charges for online harassment. A few had limited online influence, while others were more visible.

Every defendant is charged with spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality. In certain cases, this extended to equating the age gap with the French president to offensive labels.

If found responsible, they may be sentenced to as much as 24 months in incarceration.

Consequences for Loved Ones

Auzière, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, explained how the false claims have caused a "decline of her physical state" and a "decline of her overall existence".

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

She pointed out the repercussions on the family, for example the younger generation learning about hurtful comments like "She is deceptive" or "She is actually a man".

"She does not know how to end it," she remarked. "She holds no office, she has not sought any of this, and she is constantly experiencing this abuse."

Judicial Proceedings Background

The Paris trial is part of an ongoing effort in a extended court case addressing the baseless theory that she was transgender.

The Macrons have initiated a US lawsuit for defamation against a conservative podcaster who promoted the theory.

The lawsuit clarifies that the allegation is completely false and notes that the name mentioned is in fact Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Defendants' Responses

In court, some of the accused disputed the allegations.

• A retired business owner, serving as a local official, asserted he "had no purpose to cause harm" and referred to his posts as satirical.
• A well-known publicist argued that his posts were meant to be "satire" and highlighted apprehension that the trial could endanger "freedom of expression".
• A third defendant explained he shared posts since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "impact on the nation".

Personal History

The inaccurate claim regarding the first lady's gender gained traction to some extent because the Macrons' relationship has frequently been a topic of comment online.

The first lady, who is two decades older than her husband, first met him when working as a educator at the institution he attended.

The connection between them grew through the school's theatre programme, and they entered into marriage in that year, after her separation.

Auzière finished her testimony by expressing that the false claims have produced a "whirlwind that continues endlessly" for the first lady.