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The French first lady's child, her daughter, informed a tribunal in Paris that inaccurate assertions online—among them the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron had a male birth identity—have significantly harmed her mother's quality of life.

She, a legal professional, was called as a witness in the trial of a group of defendants allegedly involved in online harassment against Brigitte Macron.

Impact on Daily Life

She testified that the first lady now feels perpetual anxiety about how she looks, such as the clothes she wears to her posture, due to the fear that any image could be distorted to advance negative campaigns.

"The result is that she always must be cautious to her outfits, her posture, regardless of her actions in her daily life," she testified.

Those on Trial and Charges

The defendants, in that age range, are on trial for online harassment. Some had a small social media following, while others were better known.

Every defendant is charged with posting harmful statements about the first lady's personal life. In certain cases, this included comparing the age gap with Emmanuel Macron to hurtful comparisons.

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

Consequences for Loved Ones

Auzière, a daughter from her mother's previous marriage, described how the baseless rumors have resulted in a "decline of her health" and a "decline of her quality of life".

She explained, "Hardly a day passes when someone does not talk the issue to her."

She emphasized the impact on her relatives, including the younger generation learning about false assertions like "She is deceptive" or "She is actually a man".

"She does not know what to do about it," Auzière stated. "She didn't run for election, she has not sought any of this, and she is continually facing this abuse."

Judicial Proceedings Context

The Paris trial is part of an ongoing effort in a extended court case against the baseless theory that the first lady is supposedly a man.

The Macrons have initiated a legal action in the United States alleging slander targeting a political commentator who promoted the claim.

The legal filing asserts that the accusation is totally unfounded and notes that the person cited is in fact Brigitte Macron's brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

In court, some of the accused denied the accusations.

• An individual, serving as a local official, asserted he "never intended to inflict damage" and described his online statements as ironic.
• A well-known publicist claimed that his posts were meant to be "satire" and voiced worry that the case could undermine "freedom of expression".
• A third defendant said he disseminated content because he felt it was a worldwide topic with "implications for the country".

Personal History

The inaccurate claim regarding the first lady's gender circulated to some extent because the Macrons' relationship has frequently been a subject of discussion on the internet.

Brigitte Macron, who is significantly older than the president, first met the future president when working as a teacher at the institution he attended.

Their relationship developed through the school's theatre programme, and they entered into marriage in that year, after Brigitte Macron's divorce.

Auzière concluded her statement by stating that the false claims have created a "whirlwind that never stops" for her mother.