Misleading Claims on the Internet Damaged Brigitte Macron's Well-being, Daughter Tells Court

The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a judicial body in Paris that false claims circulating on the internet—including the baseless theory that the French first lady had a male birth identity—have negatively impacted her mother's daily existence.

She, a legal professional, was called as a witness in the trial of ten people facing charges for internet-based abuse against the first lady.

Effects on Daily Life

Auzière testified that her mother now feels perpetual anxiety about her appearance, including her attire to the way she carries herself, due to the fear that any image may be manipulated to support hateful attacks.

"The result is that she constantly must be cautious to what she wears, her posture, irrespective of her activities in everyday routine," Auzière informed the judges.

Those on Trial and Charges

Eight men and two women, in that age range, are in court for online harassment. Some had limited online influence, while the rest were more prominent.

All is accused of spreading defamatory content about the first lady's personal life. In certain cases, this extended to linking her age difference with the French president to inappropriate terms.

If found responsible, they may be sentenced to a maximum of two years in jail.

Consequences for Loved Ones

She, one of three children from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, stated how the baseless rumors have caused a "deterioration of her physical state" and a "deterioration of her overall existence".

She testified, "Not a day goes by when an individual avoids discussing these claims to her."

Auzière pointed out the impact on her relatives, for example the younger generation learning about malicious statements like "She is deceptive" or "Your grandmother is actually a man".

"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 experiencing these attacks."

Court Case Background

The legal proceedings represents a recent development in a extended court case targeting the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron is male.

The couple have initiated a legal action in the United States for defamation against a media personality who spread the theory.

The legal filing states that the allegation is entirely inaccurate and notes that the person cited is in fact Brigitte Macron's older brother.

Trial Testimonies

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

• A retired business owner, holding a public position, stated he "never intended to cause harm" and referred to his online statements as satirical.
• A fiction writer argued that his social media shares were presented as "irony" and expressed concern that the legal action could threaten "freedom of expression".
• A third defendant testified he shared content because he felt it was a worldwide topic with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The baseless rumor about the first lady's sex spread to some extent because their marriage has long been a topic of comment online.

Brigitte Macron, being 24 years older than Emmanuel Macron, originally knew him when she was a instructor at his school.

The connection between them grew through drama activities, and they married in that year, following Brigitte Macron's marriage dissolution.

Auzière wrapped up her statement by saying that the false claims have caused a "chaos that does not cease" for the first lady.