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The French first lady's child, her daughter, informed a tribunal in Paris that false claims spread through social media—including the unfounded rumor that the French first lady was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's quality of life.

She, a legal professional, appeared as a testifier in the legal proceedings of a group of defendants facing charges for online harassment against her mother.

Impact on Personal Routine

She explained that her mother now is always concerned about her demeanor, including her fashion choices to her posture, because of the fear that each snapshot may be misused to support hateful attacks.

"The consequence is that she constantly has to pay attention to her outfits, her posture, irrespective of she's doing in day-to-day existence," Auzière testified.

Accused Individuals and Charges

The defendants, between 41 and 60 years old, are on trial for online harassment. A few had modest digital reach, while others were more prominent.

All is alleged to have making malicious comments about Brigitte Macron's personal life. For some, this included comparing her age difference with the French president to hurtful comparisons.

If found responsible, they could receive up to two years in prison.

Family Impact

She, one of three children from Brigitte Macron's initial union, explained how the inaccurate allegations have resulted in a "decline of her physical state" and a "worsening of her daily happiness".

She testified, "Scarcely a day goes by when someone avoids discussing this to her."

She highlighted the impact on loved ones, including the younger generation learning about false assertions like "She is not truthful" or "She was born male".

"She does not know what to do about it," Auzière stated. "She's not elected, she never asked for anything, and she is continually experiencing these attacks."

Judicial Proceedings Context

The Paris trial is the latest phase in a broader legal battle against the inaccurate allegation that she was a man.

The Macrons have pursued a US lawsuit for defamation involving a media personality who spread the theory.

The legal filing clarifies that the accusation is totally unfounded and identifies that the person cited is actually Brigitte Macron's brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

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

• A retired business owner, holding a public position, claimed he "never intended to inflict damage" and described his social media content as ironic.
• Another defendant stated that his posts were meant to be "humor" and expressed concern that the legal action could threaten "freedom of expression".
• Another individual testified he posted posts since he thought it was an international matter with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The inaccurate claim regarding Brigitte Macron's identity spread partly because their union has long been a topic of comment on the internet.

Brigitte Macron, being 24 years older than the president, first met the future president when serving as a instructor at the institution he attended.

The connection between them evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they married in that year, after her divorce.

She finished her statement by expressing that the false claims have produced a "storm that does not cease" for Brigitte Macron.