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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a tribunal in Paris that misleading allegations online—such as the unfounded rumor that she was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's daily existence.

Auzière, a legal professional, was called as a witness in the court case of a group of defendants facing charges for internet-based abuse directed at Brigitte Macron.

Effects on Personal Routine

Auzière testified that the first lady now feels perpetual anxiety about her demeanor, including the clothes she wears to her posture, due to the fear that each snapshot could be misused to support hateful attacks.

"The consequence is that she always has to pay attention to what she wears, her body language, no matter what she's doing in everyday routine," she informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Accusations

Ten individuals, between 41 and 60 years old, are facing charges for online harassment. A few had a small social media following, while several more were more visible.

Every defendant is alleged to have spreading defamatory content about the first lady's gender and sexuality. For some, this extended to equating her age difference with her husband to hurtful comparisons.

Upon being found guilty, they could receive a maximum of two years in prison.

Effect on Relatives

She, a daughter from her mother's first marriage, explained how the inaccurate allegations have caused a "deterioration of her well-being" and a "worsening of her overall existence".

She said, "Hardly a day goes by when someone does not talk this to her."

Auzière pointed out the impact on loved ones, for example the kids learning about false assertions like "Brigitte is not truthful" or "She was born male".

"She does not know how to stop it," Auzière remarked. "She holds no office, she never asked for public attention, and she is continually facing these attacks."

Legal Battle History

This case is part of an ongoing effort in a wider judicial fight targeting the inaccurate allegation that she is supposedly male.

They have initiated a US lawsuit for defamation involving a conservative podcaster who amplified the claim.

The legal filing asserts that the claim is completely false and notes that the name mentioned is in fact Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Defendants' Responses

Throughout the proceedings, several defendants denied the charges.

• An individual, holding a public position, asserted he "had no purpose to hurt anyone" and referred to his online statements as humorous.
• Another defendant argued that his online activity were presented as "humor" and highlighted apprehension that the legal action could threaten "freedom of expression".
• Another individual testified he shared content since he thought it was an international matter with "impact on the nation".

Relationship Background

The inaccurate claim regarding the first lady's identity spread partly because the Macrons' relationship has frequently been a subject of discussion in digital spaces.

Brigitte Macron, who is 24 years older than Emmanuel Macron, first met Emmanuel Macron when working as a educator at the institution he attended.

The connection between them grew through theatrical projects, and they wed in 2007, following her divorce.

She wrapped up her testimony by expressing that the baseless rumors have produced a "chaos that continues endlessly" for Brigitte Macron.