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Brigitte Macron's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a Paris court that misleading allegations spread through social media—including the baseless theory that she was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's daily existence.

Auzière, a legal professional, served as a testifier in the legal proceedings of a group of defendants allegedly involved in internet-based abuse targeting her mother.

Effects on Daily Life

She stated that Brigitte Macron now worries constantly about her appearance, such as her attire to her posture, as a result of the concern that each snapshot could be manipulated to advance malicious comments.

"The consequence is that she systematically must be cautious to her clothing, her body language, irrespective of her activities in day-to-day existence," she informed the judges.

Defendants and Accusations

Eight men and two women, in that age range, are in court for internet-based bullying. Several had modest digital reach, while others were better known.

Each one is alleged to have making malicious comments about the first lady's identity. Among them, this extended to comparing the age gap with the French president to inappropriate terms.

Upon being found guilty, they could receive up to two years in prison.

Consequences for Loved Ones

Auzière, a family member from her mother's previous marriage, described how the baseless rumors have resulted in a "worsening of her well-being" and a "decline of her quality of life".

She said, "Hardly a day goes by when someone does not talk the issue to her."

She highlighted the effects on loved ones, including the younger generation being exposed to malicious statements like "Brigitte is lying" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She is unsure how to stop it," Auzière remarked. "She holds no office, she never asked for any of this, and she is continually facing this abuse."

Court Case Context

The Paris trial is part of an ongoing effort in a extended court case targeting the false claim that she is male.

The couple have pursued a US lawsuit for defamation involving a conservative podcaster who promoted the theory.

The lawsuit clarifies that the accusation is totally unfounded and notes that the person cited is in fact her brother.

Defendants' Responses

In court, several defendants denied the charges.

• One defendant, serving as a local official, claimed he "did not mean to inflict damage" and described his posts as satirical.
• A fiction writer argued that his social media shares were presented as "satire" and expressed concern that the trial could endanger "freedom of expression".
• A third defendant testified he disseminated content since he thought it was a global issue with "consequences for France".

Past Context

The baseless rumor about Brigitte Macron's identity gained traction in part because their marriage has long been a point of interest on the internet.

The first lady, being significantly older than Emmanuel Macron, first met him when she was a teacher at his school.

Their relationship grew through the school's theatre programme, and they entered into marriage in 2007, following Brigitte Macron's divorce.

Auzière finished her statement by saying that the false claims have produced a "chaos that continues endlessly" for Brigitte Macron.