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Brigitte Macron's child, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a Paris court that false claims circulating on the internet—including the groundless claim that she is transgender—have significantly harmed her mother's quality of life.

She, a attorney, was called as a witness in the legal proceedings of 10 individuals accused of online harassment directed at Brigitte Macron.

Effects on Everyday Activities

Auzière stated that the first lady now worries constantly about how she looks, from her attire to her posture, due to the apprehension that each snapshot could be misused to advance malicious comments.

"The consequence is that she systematically needs to be careful to her outfits, her posture, regardless of she's doing in her daily life," Auzière testified.

Defendants and Accusations

Eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, are facing charges for internet-based bullying. Some had a small social media following, while others were more prominent.

Each one is charged with spreading defamatory content about the first lady's personal life. Among them, this involved comparing the age gap with Emmanuel Macron to offensive labels.

Upon being found guilty, they face as much as 24 months in prison.

Consequences for Loved Ones

Auzière, one of three children from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, described how the false claims have resulted in a "deterioration of her well-being" and a "decline of her overall existence".

She testified, "Hardly a day passes when a person fails to mention these claims to her."

She highlighted the repercussions on the family, such as her grandchildren being exposed to false assertions like "Brigitte is deceptive" or "Your grandmother is actually a man".

"She is unsure how to stop it," she testified. "She holds no office, she never asked for anything, and she is constantly facing these assaults."

Legal Battle History

The Paris trial is part of an ongoing effort in a broader legal battle targeting the inaccurate allegation that she is a man.

The couple have initiated a US lawsuit over false statements involving a conservative podcaster who amplified the theory.

The legal filing asserts that the claim is entirely inaccurate and points out that the name mentioned is really Brigitte Macron's older brother.

Defendants' Responses

In court, a few individuals denied the charges.

• One defendant, holding a public position, claimed he "never intended to inflict damage" and described his online statements as satirical.
• A well-known publicist stated that his online activity were presented as "satire" and expressed concern that the trial could undermine "free speech".
• Another individual testified he disseminated information since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "consequences for France".

Relationship Background

The inaccurate claim regarding the first lady's gender spread in part because the Macrons' relationship has often been a subject of discussion on the internet.

The first lady, aged two decades older than the president, first met Emmanuel Macron when serving as a teacher at his secondary school.

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

She concluded her account by expressing that the false claims have produced a "storm that does not cease" for the first lady.