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Brigitte Macron's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, informed a judicial body in Paris that inaccurate assertions circulating on the internet—such as the baseless theory that she is transgender—have significantly harmed her mother's quality of life.

Auzière, a legal professional, appeared as a witness in the legal proceedings of ten people allegedly involved in digital bullying against Brigitte Macron.

Impact on Everyday Activities

Auzière explained that her mother now worries constantly about her appearance, from the clothes she wears to how she stands, as a result of the apprehension that each snapshot may be distorted to fuel hateful attacks.

"The outcome is that she always has to pay attention to what she wears, how she holds herself, regardless of she's doing in day-to-day existence," she told the court.

Defendants and Allegations

Eight men and two women, in that age range, are facing charges for online harassment. Some had modest digital reach, while others were better known.

Every defendant is alleged to have spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's identity. In certain cases, this extended to linking her age difference with her husband to inappropriate terms.

Upon being found guilty, they face as much as 24 months in jail.

Consequences for Loved Ones

She, a family member from her mother's previous marriage, stated how the false claims have led to a "worsening of her physical state" and a "deterioration of her quality of life".

She testified, "Scarcely a day passes when a person fails to mention this to her."

She pointed out the repercussions on the family, including the younger generation learning about hurtful comments like "Your grandmother is not truthful" or "She is your grandfather".

"She does not know what to do about it," she testified. "She didn't run for election, she never asked for public attention, and she is continually subjected to this abuse."

Judicial Proceedings Background

The legal proceedings represents a recent development in a broader legal battle targeting the baseless theory that she was transgender.

They have pursued a US lawsuit alleging slander involving a conservative podcaster who spread the allegation.

The case asserts that the allegation is completely false and points out that the individual referenced is actually Brigitte Macron's brother.

Defendants' Responses

During the trial, some of the accused rejected the allegations.

• One defendant, now a deputy mayor, claimed he "never intended to hurt anyone" and referred to his online statements as satirical.
• Another defendant argued that his social media shares were intended as "satire" and highlighted apprehension that the trial could threaten "free speech".
• Another individual explained he shared posts because he felt it was a global issue with "consequences for France".

Personal History

The false theory about the first lady's sex spread to some extent because their union has long been a topic of comment on the internet.

The first lady, being two decades older than the president, initially encountered the future president when working as a teacher at his school.

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

She wrapped up her statement by stating that the inaccurate allegations have produced a "storm that never stops" for Brigitte Macron.