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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a judicial body in Paris that false claims spread through social media—such as the unfounded rumor that she had a male birth identity—have significantly harmed her mother's daily existence.

Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a witness in the legal proceedings of 10 individuals accused of digital bullying against Brigitte Macron.

Impact on Personal Routine

Auzière stated that the first lady now is always concerned about her demeanor, including the clothes she wears to how she stands, because of the apprehension that any image might be misused to support negative campaigns.

"The consequence is that she always must be cautious to what she wears, her posture, regardless of her activities in everyday routine," she testified.

Accused Individuals and Allegations

The defendants, aged 41 to 60, are in court for online harassment. A few had modest digital reach, while the rest were more prominent.

Each one is alleged to have spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality. In certain cases, this included linking her age difference with the French president to hurtful comparisons.

If found responsible, they could receive a maximum of two years in jail.

Effect on Relatives

She, a daughter from her mother's first marriage, explained how the baseless rumors have caused a "decline of her physical state" and a "decline of her quality of life".

She explained, "Scarcely a day passes when an individual fails to mention the issue to her."

Auzière pointed out the repercussions on her relatives, such as the kids hearing hurtful comments like "Brigitte is not truthful" or "She was born male".

"She has no idea how to stop it," Auzière remarked. "She didn't run for election, she never asked for public attention, and she is constantly experiencing these attacks."

Court Case History

The Paris trial is the latest phase in a broader legal battle targeting the inaccurate allegation that she is male.

The Macrons have pursued a legal action in the United States over false statements involving a political commentator who amplified the theory.

The legal filing states that the allegation is completely false and notes that the person cited is actually Brigitte Macron's brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

Throughout the proceedings, a few individuals rejected the allegations.

• An individual, now a deputy mayor, claimed he "did not mean to inflict damage" and referred to his online statements as humorous.
• A well-known publicist stated that his social media shares were presented as "satire" and expressed concern that the case could endanger "the right to speak freely".
• Another individual explained he posted information as he believed it was a global issue with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The baseless rumor about Brigitte Macron's sex spread partly because the Macrons' relationship has long been a point of interest on the internet.

Brigitte Macron, being two decades older than the president, initially encountered him when working as a educator at his school.

The connection between them evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they entered into marriage in the following year, following Brigitte Macron's marriage dissolution.

She finished her testimony by saying that the baseless rumors have produced a "storm that never stops" for Brigitte Macron.