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The French first lady's child, her daughter, testified to a judicial body in Paris that misleading allegations circulating on the internet—among them the groundless claim that she was born a man—have negatively impacted her mother's personal well-being.

She, a legal professional, served as a witness in the trial of 10 individuals allegedly involved in digital bullying against Brigitte Macron.

Consequences on Everyday Activities

Auzière stated that Brigitte Macron now worries constantly about her demeanor, such as the clothes she wears to her posture, as a result of the concern that any image may be distorted to support hateful attacks.

"The result is that she systematically needs to be careful to what she wears, her body language, no matter what she's doing in her daily life," Auzière testified.

Accused Individuals and Accusations

Ten individuals, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for online harassment. Some had limited online influence, while the rest were more prominent.

Every defendant is alleged to have posting harmful statements about Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality. Among them, this included equating her age difference with the French president to offensive labels.

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

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, a family member from her mother's initial union, described how the inaccurate allegations have led to a "deterioration of her well-being" and a "deterioration of her overall existence".

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

She highlighted the impact on her relatives, for example the kids being exposed to hurtful comments like "Your grandmother is lying" or "She is actually a man".

"She has no idea what to do about it," she testified. "She holds no office, she didn't pursue any of this, and she is continually facing this abuse."

Legal Battle Background

The legal proceedings represents a recent development in a wider judicial fight addressing the baseless theory that the first lady is male.

The Macrons have pursued a US lawsuit for defamation targeting a media personality who promoted the claim.

The lawsuit asserts that the allegation is totally unfounded and points out that the person cited is really Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Trial Testimonies

During the trial, a few individuals denied the charges.

• One defendant, holding a public position, stated he "did not mean to cause harm" and referred to his online statements as ironic.
• A fiction writer claimed that his social media shares were presented as "satire" and expressed concern that the legal action could undermine "freedom of expression".
• Another individual explained he shared information as he believed it was a worldwide topic with "implications for the country".

Relationship Background

The inaccurate claim about Brigitte Macron's identity gained traction to some extent because their marriage has long been a topic of comment on the internet.

She, who is two decades older than her husband, originally knew Emmanuel Macron when serving as a instructor at the institution he attended.

Their relationship developed through drama activities, and they entered into marriage in that year, following her marriage dissolution.

She wrapped up her account by stating that the false claims have caused a "whirlwind that continues endlessly" for Brigitte Macron.