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Brigitte Macron's child, her daughter, has told a tribunal in Paris that false claims online—such as the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's personal well-being.

Auzière, a attorney, appeared as a testifier in the trial of a group of defendants allegedly involved in internet-based abuse against her mother.

Impact on Everyday Activities

Auzière explained that Brigitte Macron now is always concerned about her appearance, including her fashion choices to her posture, as a result of the fear that each snapshot might be distorted to support hateful attacks.

"The outcome is that she always needs to be careful to what she wears, her body language, no matter what her actions in everyday routine," she told the court.

Those on Trial and Charges

Eight men and two women, in that age range, are on trial for internet-based bullying. A few had modest digital reach, while others were more visible.

Every defendant is alleged to have posting harmful statements about the first lady's identity. In certain cases, this included equating the disparity in years with her husband to inappropriate terms.

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

Consequences for Loved Ones

Auzière, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, stated how the inaccurate allegations have led to a "deterioration of her well-being" and a "worsening of her quality of life".

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

She highlighted the repercussions on the family, for example her grandchildren hearing false assertions like "She is not truthful" or "Your grandmother is actually a man".

"She is unsure what to do about it," she remarked. "She's not elected, she has not sought anything, and she is constantly subjected to this abuse."

Judicial Proceedings History

The legal proceedings represents a recent development in a broader legal battle targeting the false claim that Brigitte Macron was male.

They have also filed a US lawsuit over false statements targeting a conservative podcaster who spread the theory.

The legal filing states that the allegation is entirely inaccurate and points out that the person cited is actually her sibling.

Accused Individuals' Statements

Throughout the proceedings, some of the accused rejected the allegations.

• A retired business owner, serving as a local official, asserted he "never intended to hurt anyone" and referred to his social media content as humorous.
• A well-known publicist argued that his online activity were intended as "satire" and highlighted apprehension that the legal action could undermine "the right to speak freely".
• Another individual explained he posted content since he thought it was a global issue with "implications for the country".

Past Context

The inaccurate claim concerning the first lady's identity spread to some extent because the Macrons' relationship has often been a topic of comment in digital spaces.

The first lady, aged 24 years older than Emmanuel Macron, originally knew the future president when working as a instructor at his school.

The connection between them developed through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in the following year, after her separation.

Auzière finished her statement by stating that the baseless rumors have caused a "chaos that continues endlessly" for the first lady.