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The French first lady's child, her daughter, testified to a tribunal in Paris that misleading allegations spread through social media—including the unfounded rumor that she is transgender—have significantly harmed her mother's quality of life.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, was called as a testifier in the court case of ten people facing charges for digital bullying targeting Brigitte Macron.

Impact on Daily Life

She stated that her mother now feels perpetual anxiety about her demeanor, from her fashion choices to her posture, because of the fear that each snapshot may be distorted to support hateful attacks.

"The consequence is that she always has to pay attention to what she wears, her body language, irrespective of she's doing in her daily life," Auzière told the court.

Accused Individuals and Accusations

Eight men and two women, between 41 and 60 years old, are facing charges for online harassment. Some had modest digital reach, while others were better known.

Every defendant is charged with making malicious comments about the first lady's personal life. Among them, this included equating the disparity in years with the French president to hurtful comparisons.

If convicted, they may be sentenced to as much as 24 months in jail.

Consequences for Loved Ones

Auzière, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's initial union, stated how the inaccurate allegations have caused a "deterioration of her physical state" and a "worsening of her daily happiness".

She explained, "Not a day goes by when an individual avoids discussing the issue to her."

She emphasized the effects on the family, for example the kids being exposed to hurtful comments like "Brigitte is deceptive" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She does not know how to stop it," Auzière stated. "She's not elected, she has not sought any of this, and she is constantly subjected to this abuse."

Legal Battle Background

This case is the latest phase in a extended court case addressing the false claim that the first lady is supposedly male.

The Macrons have initiated a legal action in the United States for defamation involving a political commentator who amplified the claim.

The lawsuit asserts that the allegation is totally unfounded and identifies that the name mentioned is really her brother.

Defendants' Responses

During the trial, a few individuals denied the accusations.

• An individual, holding a public position, stated he "had no purpose to inflict damage" and described his social media content as ironic.
• A fiction writer claimed that his online activity were meant to be "humor" and expressed concern that the trial could threaten "freedom of expression".
• An art gallery owner said he shared posts as he believed it was an international matter with "consequences for France".

Relationship Background

The false theory concerning Brigitte Macron's identity spread partly because their marriage has often been a subject of discussion in digital spaces.

Brigitte Macron, who is 24 years older than the president, first met Emmanuel Macron when she was a teacher at the institution he attended.

The connection between them evolved through drama activities, and they wed in that year, subsequent to her separation.

She concluded her account by saying that the false claims have created a "whirlwind that never stops" for Brigitte Macron.