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The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a tribunal in Paris that misleading allegations online—among them the groundless claim that Brigitte Macron was born a man—have negatively impacted her mother's daily existence.

She, a legal professional, was called as a testifier in the legal proceedings of a group of defendants allegedly involved in online harassment directed at the first lady.

Consequences on Daily Life

Auzière stated that her mother now feels perpetual anxiety about her appearance, such as her fashion choices to her posture, as a result of the fear that any image could be manipulated to fuel hateful attacks.

"The result is that she systematically needs to be careful to her clothing, her posture, irrespective of her actions in everyday routine," she testified.

Accused Individuals and Allegations

The defendants, aged 41 to 60, are facing charges for digital abuse. A few had modest digital reach, while several more were better known.

All is alleged to have spreading defamatory content about the first lady's gender and sexuality. For some, this included linking the age gap with her husband to offensive labels.

If convicted, they face up to two years in prison.

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, a daughter from her mother's initial union, stated how the false claims have led to a "decline of her physical state" and a "deterioration of her daily happiness".

She explained, "Hardly a day goes by when someone avoids discussing this to her."

Auzière pointed out the impact on her relatives, for example her grandchildren hearing hurtful comments like "She is lying" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She is unsure how to end it," she remarked. "She holds no office, she has not sought any of this, and she is permanently subjected to this abuse."

Judicial Proceedings History

The Paris trial is the latest phase in a wider judicial fight addressing the inaccurate allegation that the first lady is supposedly a man.

They have also filed a case in America over false statements targeting a media personality who promoted the claim.

The lawsuit asserts that the allegation is entirely inaccurate and identifies that the person cited is in fact Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Accused Individuals' Statements

In court, several defendants disputed the allegations.

• An individual, holding a public position, stated he "had no purpose to hurt anyone" and described his social media content as ironic.
• A well-known publicist argued that his social media shares were intended as "satire" and highlighted apprehension that the case could endanger "free speech".
• Another individual explained he disseminated posts as he believed it was an international matter with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The baseless rumor about Brigitte Macron's gender circulated partly because the Macrons' relationship has often been a topic of comment online.

She, aged 24 years older than the president, initially encountered Emmanuel Macron when she was a educator at his school.

Their relationship grew through theatrical projects, and they married in that year, after her marriage dissolution.

Auzière concluded her testimony by saying that the false claims have created a "chaos that continues endlessly" for Brigitte Macron.