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Brigitte Macron's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, informed a judicial body in Paris that false claims spread through social media—including the groundless claim that she is transgender—have severely damaged her mother's personal well-being.

Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a witness in the trial of ten people facing charges for digital bullying targeting Brigitte Macron.

Consequences on Daily Life

Auzière stated that the first lady now is always concerned about her demeanor, including her fashion choices to how she stands, as a result of the concern that each snapshot could be distorted to advance malicious comments.

"The outcome is that she always has to pay attention to her outfits, her posture, irrespective of her activities in everyday routine," Auzière testified.

Accused Individuals and Accusations

The defendants, in that age range, are on trial for digital abuse. A few had a small social media following, while others were more prominent.

Every defendant is accused of spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's identity. For some, this involved comparing the age gap with Emmanuel Macron to offensive labels.

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

Family Impact

Auzière, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's initial union, described how the inaccurate allegations have resulted in a "deterioration of her well-being" and a "decline of her quality of life".

She said, "Scarcely a day goes by when an individual fails to mention these claims to her."

Auzière emphasized the impact on loved ones, such as her grandchildren hearing false assertions like "Brigitte is lying" or "She is your grandfather".

"She does not know how to stop it," she remarked. "She holds no office, she never asked for anything, and she is constantly experiencing these assaults."

Legal Battle History

This case is the latest phase in a broader legal battle against the baseless theory that the first lady is supposedly a man.

The Macrons have also filed a legal action in the United States over false statements targeting a conservative podcaster who promoted the claim.

The legal filing states that the accusation is completely false and notes that the name mentioned is in fact Brigitte Macron's brother.

Defendants' Responses

Throughout the proceedings, a few individuals disputed the charges.

• An individual, now a deputy mayor, asserted he "had no purpose to cause harm" and referred to his posts as satirical.
• A fiction writer claimed that his social media shares were meant to be "irony" and expressed concern that the case could undermine "free speech".
• A third defendant testified he shared posts since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "impact on the nation".

Personal History

The baseless rumor concerning the first lady's identity spread partly because their marriage has often been a subject of discussion in digital spaces.

Brigitte Macron, who is two decades older than Emmanuel Macron, first met the future president when she was a instructor at the institution he attended.

Their relationship grew through theatrical projects, and they married in 2007, after Brigitte Macron's separation.

She wrapped up her statement by stating that the false claims have caused a "storm that never stops" for the first lady.