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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a tribunal in Paris that false claims online—including the baseless theory that she had a male birth identity—have significantly harmed her mother's daily existence.

She, a legal professional, was called as a testifier in the court case of 10 individuals accused of internet-based abuse against her mother.

Consequences on Everyday Activities

Auzière testified that Brigitte Macron now feels perpetual anxiety about how she looks, from the clothes she wears to how she stands, because of the fear that any image might be distorted to advance negative campaigns.

"The outcome is that she constantly must be cautious to what she wears, her body language, regardless of her activities in everyday routine," Auzière informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Accusations

The defendants, between 41 and 60 years old, are facing charges for internet-based bullying. Some had a small social media following, while the rest were better known.

Each one is accused of posting harmful statements about the first lady's gender and sexuality. In certain cases, this involved linking her age difference with the French president to offensive labels.

If convicted, they may be sentenced to a maximum of two years in prison.

Family Impact

She, a daughter from her mother's initial union, explained how the inaccurate allegations have led to a "deterioration of her well-being" and a "worsening of her overall existence".

She explained, "Scarcely a day goes by when a person fails to mention these claims to her."

She highlighted the impact on the family, for example her grandchildren being exposed to hurtful comments like "Brigitte is not truthful" or "She is your grandfather".

"She has no idea how to end it," she stated. "She holds no office, she never asked for any of this, and she is permanently subjected to these assaults."

Judicial Proceedings Context

The legal proceedings is part of an ongoing effort in a extended court case addressing the false claim that she was male.

The Macrons have initiated a legal action in the United States for defamation against a political commentator who amplified the allegation.

The case states that the allegation is totally unfounded and notes that the name mentioned is really Brigitte Macron's older brother.

Trial Testimonies

During the trial, some of the accused rejected the charges.

• A retired business owner, now a deputy mayor, asserted he "had no purpose to cause harm" and referred to his social media content as satirical.
• A well-known publicist argued that his posts were presented as "satire" and highlighted apprehension that the case could threaten "the right to speak freely".
• Another individual explained he posted posts because he felt it was a worldwide topic with "implications for the country".

Past Context

The inaccurate claim regarding the first lady's identity gained traction to some extent because the Macrons' relationship has long been a point of interest online.

Brigitte Macron, who is two decades older than Emmanuel Macron, initially encountered him when working as a educator at his secondary school.

The connection between them grew through drama activities, and they entered into marriage in the following year, after Brigitte Macron's divorce.

Auzière concluded her account by expressing that the false claims have created a "chaos that never stops" for the first lady.