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The French first lady's child, her daughter, has told a tribunal in Paris that false claims spread through social media—including the groundless claim that she was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's personal well-being.

She, a legal professional, served as a testifier in the legal proceedings of ten people facing charges for online harassment against the first lady.

Impact on Daily Life

Auzière testified that the first lady now is always concerned about her appearance, from her attire to how she stands, as a result of the fear that every photograph may be manipulated to advance hateful attacks.

"The result is that she systematically has to pay attention to her clothing, her body language, no matter what she's doing in everyday routine," Auzière informed the judges.

Defendants and Allegations

The defendants, in that age range, are in court for online harassment. Some had limited online influence, while the rest were more prominent.

Each one is alleged to have spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality. Among them, this included equating the age gap with the French president to inappropriate terms.

Upon being found guilty, they face a maximum of two years in jail.

Consequences for Loved Ones

She, one of three children from Brigitte Macron's initial union, explained how the inaccurate allegations have resulted in a "deterioration of her well-being" and a "deterioration of her daily happiness".

She said, "Not a day goes by when a person avoids discussing these claims to her."

She highlighted the impact on loved ones, such as her grandchildren hearing false assertions like "Your grandmother is not truthful" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She is unsure what to do about it," Auzière testified. "She didn't run for election, she didn't pursue any of this, and she is constantly subjected to these attacks."

Legal Battle Background

The Paris trial represents a recent development in a wider judicial fight against the inaccurate allegation that Brigitte Macron was male.

The couple have pursued a legal action in the United States alleging slander involving a political commentator who promoted the allegation.

The lawsuit clarifies that the claim is totally unfounded and notes that the individual referenced is in fact Brigitte Macron's brother.

Trial Testimonies

Throughout the proceedings, several defendants rejected the accusations.

• A retired business owner, now a deputy mayor, stated he "never intended to cause harm" and described his posts as satirical.
• Another defendant argued that his social media shares were presented as "satire" and voiced worry that the trial could threaten "freedom of expression".
• Another individual explained he shared content since he thought it was an international matter with "consequences for France".

Past Context

The false theory regarding the first lady's identity circulated in part because their union has frequently been a topic of comment on the internet.

Brigitte Macron, who is 24 years older than the president, first met the future president when serving as a teacher at his secondary school.

Their bond developed through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in 2007, subsequent to her separation.

Auzière wrapped up her account by expressing that the false claims have created a "storm that never stops" for her mother.