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The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a Paris court that misleading allegations circulating on the internet—including the baseless theory that she was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's daily existence.

She, a legal professional, served as a witness in the legal proceedings of 10 individuals accused of online harassment against Brigitte Macron.

Impact on Everyday Activities

She stated that her mother now worries constantly about her demeanor, including her attire to the way she carries herself, due to the concern that each snapshot could be distorted to fuel malicious comments.

"The result is that she systematically needs to be careful to what she wears, her posture, irrespective of her actions in everyday routine," Auzière informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Allegations

Eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, are in court for digital abuse. A few had a small social media following, while the rest were better known.

Every defendant is accused of making malicious comments about the first lady's identity. Among them, this involved comparing the age gap with Emmanuel Macron to hurtful comparisons.

If convicted, they could receive a maximum of two years in incarceration.

Family Impact

She, a family member from her mother's initial union, described how the inaccurate allegations have resulted in a "decline of her physical state" and a "decline of her daily happiness".

She said, "Not a day passes when a person avoids discussing the issue to her."

Auzière emphasized the impact on her relatives, including the younger generation hearing malicious statements like "Your grandmother is deceptive" or "She was born male".

"She has no idea what to do about it," she testified. "She didn't run for election, she didn't pursue any of this, and she is constantly experiencing these attacks."

Legal Battle History

This case represents a recent development in a broader legal battle targeting the baseless theory that the first lady is a man.

The Macrons have initiated a legal action in the United States over false statements involving a media personality who spread the theory.

The case asserts that the accusation is totally unfounded and identifies that the name mentioned is actually her older brother.

Trial Testimonies

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

• One defendant, now a deputy mayor, stated he "had no purpose to hurt anyone" and described his social media content as humorous.
• A fiction writer argued that his posts were intended as "satire" and highlighted apprehension that the trial could undermine "the right to speak freely".
• An art gallery owner explained he shared posts since he thought it was a global issue with "implications for the country".

Relationship Background

The inaccurate claim concerning Brigitte Macron's gender spread in part because their marriage has long been a point of interest on the internet.

The first lady, aged 24 years older than her husband, initially encountered him when working as a educator at his school.

Their relationship evolved through theatrical projects, and they wed in the following year, subsequent to Brigitte Macron's divorce.

Auzière wrapped up her statement by saying that the baseless rumors have created a "chaos that does not cease" for the first lady.