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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a Paris court that misleading allegations spread through social media—including the groundless claim that Brigitte Macron had a male birth identity—have severely damaged her mother's daily existence.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, served as a testifier in the trial of a group of defendants allegedly involved in digital bullying against Brigitte Macron.

Consequences on Everyday Activities

She stated that her mother now feels perpetual anxiety about her appearance, such as her fashion choices to how she stands, as a result of the fear that any image may be distorted to advance malicious comments.

"The outcome is that she constantly must be cautious to what she wears, her body language, irrespective of her actions in day-to-day existence," she testified.

Defendants and Accusations

Eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for internet-based bullying. Some had modest digital reach, while several more were better known.

Each one is accused of spreading defamatory content about the first lady's personal life. For some, this included equating her age difference with the French president to inappropriate terms.

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

Consequences for Loved Ones

She, one of three children from her mother's initial union, stated how the baseless rumors have resulted in a "deterioration of her health" and a "decline of her quality of life".

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

Auzière highlighted the effects on her relatives, for example her grandchildren learning about false assertions like "Your grandmother is lying" or "She was born male".

"She does not know how to stop it," Auzière testified. "She didn't run for election, she didn't pursue anything, and she is continually subjected to these attacks."

Court Case Context

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

They have pursued a legal action in the United States over false statements involving a conservative podcaster who spread the theory.

The lawsuit clarifies that the accusation is entirely inaccurate and identifies that the person cited is really Brigitte Macron's brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

In court, several defendants disputed the accusations.

• One defendant, serving as a local official, asserted he "had no purpose to hurt anyone" and described his posts as satirical.
• A fiction writer claimed that his social media shares were meant to be "irony" and expressed concern that the case could undermine "the right to speak freely".
• Another individual explained he disseminated content because he felt it was a global issue with "implications for the country".

Past Context

The inaccurate claim regarding the first lady's gender circulated partly because their union has often been a topic of comment in digital spaces.

She, aged two decades older than Emmanuel Macron, initially encountered him when she was a instructor at the institution he attended.

The connection between them grew through the school's theatre programme, and they married in 2007, after her marriage dissolution.

Auzière concluded her account by expressing that the baseless rumors have created a "chaos that never stops" for the first lady.