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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a tribunal in Paris that inaccurate assertions spread through social media—such as the unfounded rumor that Brigitte Macron had a male birth identity—have severely damaged her mother's personal well-being.

Auzière, a legal professional, served as a witness in the trial of 10 individuals accused of internet-based abuse directed at the first lady.

Impact on Everyday Activities

She stated that Brigitte Macron now is always concerned about how she looks, such as her fashion choices to her posture, because of the concern that each snapshot might be manipulated to advance negative campaigns.

"The outcome is that she systematically needs to be careful to what she wears, her posture, irrespective of her actions in day-to-day existence," she told the court.

Defendants and Allegations

Ten individuals, between 41 and 60 years old, are on trial for digital abuse. Several had modest digital reach, while several more were more prominent.

Every defendant is accused of making malicious comments about Brigitte Macron's personal life. Among them, this extended to linking her age difference with her husband to offensive labels.

If found responsible, they could receive as much as 24 months in jail.

Family Impact

She, a family member from her mother's previous marriage, stated how the baseless rumors have resulted in a "worsening of her physical state" and a "decline of her overall existence".

She said, "Hardly a day passes when an individual avoids discussing this to her."

Auzière pointed out the effects on the family, for example her grandchildren being exposed to hurtful comments like "Brigitte is lying" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She is unsure how to end it," Auzière testified. "She didn't run for election, she has not sought public attention, and she is constantly facing this abuse."

Legal Battle History

The legal proceedings is the latest phase in a extended court case addressing the false claim that she was male.

The Macrons have initiated a case in America over false statements involving a media personality who promoted the claim.

The lawsuit states that the allegation is entirely inaccurate and identifies that the person cited is actually Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Trial Testimonies

Throughout the proceedings, several defendants denied the accusations.

• One defendant, now a deputy mayor, claimed he "did not mean to inflict damage" and referred to his posts as ironic.
• A fiction writer claimed that his online activity were meant to be "satire" and expressed concern that the legal action could threaten "free speech".
• Another individual explained he posted posts since he thought it was a global issue with "implications for the country".

Personal History

The false theory about the first lady's gender circulated to some extent because their marriage has frequently been a point of interest on the internet.

Brigitte Macron, being significantly older than her husband, originally knew the future president when working as a teacher at the institution he attended.

The connection between them developed through the school's theatre programme, and they married in that year, subsequent to her marriage dissolution.

She concluded her statement by saying that the inaccurate allegations have created a "storm that does not cease" for the first lady.