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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a tribunal in Paris that misleading allegations online—such as the unfounded rumor that the French first lady had a male birth identity—have significantly harmed her mother's quality of life.

Auzière, a legal professional, served as a testifier in the court case of 10 individuals accused of internet-based abuse targeting her mother.

Consequences on Personal Routine

She stated that her mother now worries constantly about her appearance, such as her attire to her posture, because of the apprehension that every photograph might be manipulated to support malicious comments.

"The result is that she constantly needs to be careful to what she wears, how she holds herself, irrespective of her activities in her daily life," Auzière told the court.

Accused Individuals and Charges

Eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, are in court for online harassment. A few had a small social media following, while others were more prominent.

Every defendant is charged with spreading defamatory content about the first lady's identity. For some, this included equating her age difference with Emmanuel Macron to hurtful comparisons.

If found responsible, they may be sentenced to up to two years in jail.

Family Impact

She, a family member from her mother's previous marriage, stated how the inaccurate allegations have led to a "deterioration of her well-being" and a "worsening of her overall existence".

She said, "Hardly a day passes when a person fails to mention the issue to her."

Auzière emphasized the repercussions on the family, such as the kids hearing hurtful comments like "Brigitte is lying" or "She is your grandfather".

"She has no idea how to end it," Auzière testified. "She's not elected, she didn't pursue public attention, and she is continually experiencing these assaults."

Judicial Proceedings History

The legal proceedings is part of an ongoing effort in a extended court case addressing the baseless theory that the first lady was male.

They have also filed a US lawsuit over false statements against a media personality who promoted the allegation.

The lawsuit asserts that the accusation is totally unfounded and notes that the individual referenced is in fact Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Accused Individuals' Statements

Throughout the proceedings, some of the accused rejected the charges.

• One defendant, now a deputy mayor, asserted he "did not mean to cause harm" and described his social media content as satirical.
• A well-known publicist argued that his posts were meant to be "humor" and voiced worry that the legal action could undermine "freedom of expression".
• An art gallery owner said he shared posts as he believed it was an international matter with "impact on the nation".

Relationship Background

The false theory about Brigitte Macron's gender gained traction to some extent because the Macrons' relationship has frequently been a subject of discussion in digital spaces.

Brigitte Macron, who is two decades older than the president, originally knew Emmanuel Macron when working as a educator at his secondary school.

Their relationship developed through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in that year, following Brigitte Macron's separation.

Auzière wrapped up her testimony by saying that the inaccurate allegations have created a "whirlwind that does not cease" for the first lady.