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The French first lady's child, her daughter, testified to a judicial body in Paris that false claims online—including the unfounded rumor that she had a male birth identity—have negatively impacted her mother's personal well-being.

Auzière, a legal professional, was called as a testifier in the court case of 10 individuals accused of digital bullying directed at the first lady.

Consequences on Everyday Activities

Auzière stated that Brigitte Macron now is always concerned about how she looks, such as the clothes she wears to her posture, due to the fear that each snapshot may be manipulated to fuel negative campaigns.

"The outcome is that she constantly must be cautious to her clothing, how she holds herself, regardless of her activities in her daily life," she informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Allegations

The defendants, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for internet-based bullying. A few had a small social media following, while the rest were more prominent.

Every defendant is alleged to have posting harmful statements about the first lady's gender and sexuality. For some, this extended to equating the age gap with the French president to hurtful comparisons.

Upon being found guilty, they could receive up to two years in incarceration.

Family Impact

Auzière, a family member from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, explained how the false claims have caused a "worsening of her physical state" and a "deterioration of her overall existence".

She explained, "Not a day passes when an individual fails to mention this to her."

Auzière pointed out the impact on the family, including the younger generation hearing false assertions like "Brigitte is lying" or "She is your grandfather".

"She does not know how to end it," she remarked. "She holds no office, she didn't pursue any of this, and she is constantly subjected to this abuse."

Judicial Proceedings Background

The Paris trial is the latest phase in a broader legal battle against the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron was male.

The Macrons have pursued a US lawsuit for defamation involving a media personality who spread the claim.

The legal filing clarifies that the accusation is completely false and notes that the person cited is really Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Trial Testimonies

Throughout the proceedings, several defendants rejected the allegations.

• A retired business owner, holding a public position, asserted he "never intended to hurt anyone" and described his social media content as ironic.
• A fiction writer stated that his posts were presented as "satire" and highlighted apprehension that the trial could threaten "the right to speak freely".
• A third defendant said he disseminated posts as he believed it was a worldwide topic with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The false theory concerning Brigitte Macron's sex circulated in part because the Macrons' relationship has long been a subject of discussion in digital spaces.

Brigitte Macron, who is significantly older than the president, first met him when serving as a instructor at his secondary school.

Their bond developed through theatrical projects, and they wed in 2007, subsequent to her marriage dissolution.

She finished her testimony by stating that the inaccurate allegations have caused a "chaos that continues endlessly" for the first lady.