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The French first lady's child, her daughter, informed a Paris court that inaccurate assertions circulating on the internet—such as the groundless claim that Brigitte Macron had a male birth identity—have severely damaged her mother's personal well-being.

Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a testifier in the legal proceedings of a group of defendants allegedly involved in online harassment directed at her mother.

Consequences on Daily Life

She testified that the first lady now worries constantly about her appearance, such as her attire to how she stands, due to the fear that each snapshot may be manipulated to fuel malicious comments.

"The result is that she always needs to be careful to her outfits, her body language, irrespective of her activities in day-to-day existence," Auzière told the court.

Defendants and Charges

Eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for online harassment. Some had modest digital reach, while the rest were more visible.

Each one is alleged to have spreading defamatory content about the first lady's personal life. In certain cases, this extended to comparing the disparity in years with her husband to offensive labels.

If found responsible, they may be sentenced to up to two years in incarceration.

Effect on Relatives

She, a family member from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, described how the false claims have led to a "decline of her physical state" and a "deterioration of her quality of life".

She explained, "Not a day goes by when a person does not talk these claims to her."

She highlighted the repercussions on her relatives, including the younger generation learning about false assertions like "She is not truthful" or "Your grandmother is actually a man".

"She has no idea how to stop it," Auzière remarked. "She holds no office, she didn't pursue any of this, and she is continually experiencing these attacks."

Court Case Context

The Paris trial is part of an ongoing effort in a broader legal battle against the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron is supposedly a man.

The couple have pursued a US lawsuit for defamation against a media personality who amplified the allegation.

The lawsuit asserts that the accusation is entirely inaccurate and notes that the individual referenced is actually Brigitte Macron's older brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

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

• An individual, serving as a local official, stated he "never intended to hurt anyone" and described his social media content as humorous.
• A fiction writer claimed that his online activity were meant to be "satire" and highlighted apprehension that the legal action could undermine "free speech".
• An art gallery owner said he posted information as he believed it was an international matter with "consequences for France".

Personal History

The false theory concerning Brigitte Macron's gender circulated in part because the Macrons' relationship has long been a point of interest on the internet.

Brigitte Macron, who is significantly older than the president, originally knew the future president when she was a teacher at the institution he attended.

Their relationship grew through theatrical projects, and they entered into marriage in 2007, after her marriage dissolution.

She finished her statement by saying that the baseless rumors have produced a "chaos that continues endlessly" for the first lady.