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Brigitte Macron's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a Paris court that false claims spread through social media—such as the baseless theory that the French first lady was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's personal well-being.

She, a attorney, was called as a testifier in the trial of a group of defendants facing charges for online harassment targeting the first lady.

Consequences on Everyday Activities

She explained that her mother now worries constantly about how she looks, such as the clothes she wears to the way she carries herself, due to the concern that each snapshot could be distorted to advance hateful attacks.

"The result is that she constantly needs to be careful to her outfits, her body language, no matter what her actions in day-to-day existence," she testified.

Accused Individuals and Charges

Ten individuals, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for online harassment. A few had a small social media following, while others were more visible.

All is alleged to have posting harmful statements about the first lady's personal life. For some, this included linking the disparity in years with her husband to offensive labels.

Upon being found guilty, they could receive as much as 24 months in incarceration.

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's initial union, described how the false claims have resulted in a "decline of her health" and a "deterioration of her overall existence".

She testified, "Not a day goes by when a person does not talk this to her."

Auzière pointed out the effects on loved ones, including the kids being exposed to malicious statements like "Brigitte is lying" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She has no idea what to do about it," Auzière remarked. "She didn't run for election, she didn't pursue anything, and she is continually experiencing this abuse."

Judicial Proceedings Background

The legal proceedings represents a recent development in a broader legal battle targeting the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron is supposedly a man.

They have pursued a US lawsuit over false statements involving a media personality who spread the claim.

The case asserts that the accusation is completely false and points out that the individual referenced is in fact her brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

In court, a few individuals rejected the accusations.

• One defendant, now a deputy mayor, claimed he "had no purpose to cause harm" and described his social media content as ironic.
• A fiction writer stated that his social media shares were meant to be "satire" and expressed concern that the case could undermine "freedom of expression".
• An art gallery owner explained he posted information because he felt it was a worldwide topic with "implications for the country".

Personal History

The inaccurate claim concerning the first lady's identity circulated in part because their union has long been a point of interest online.

The first lady, aged significantly older than her husband, originally knew Emmanuel Macron when she was a instructor at his secondary school.

Their bond developed through the school's theatre programme, and they entered into marriage in that year, subsequent to her divorce.

She finished her testimony by saying that the false claims have created a "storm that does not cease" for the first lady.