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Brigitte Macron's child, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a tribunal in Paris that inaccurate assertions online—among them the unfounded rumor that she had a male birth identity—have significantly harmed her mother's personal well-being.

She, a attorney, served as a testifier in the court case of ten people facing charges for online harassment directed at the first lady.

Consequences on Everyday Activities

Auzière testified that her mother now feels perpetual anxiety about her appearance, including the clothes she wears to the way she carries herself, as a result of the concern that each snapshot might be manipulated to fuel negative campaigns.

"The outcome is that she systematically has to pay attention to her clothing, her posture, irrespective of she's doing in her daily life," Auzière testified.

Defendants and Accusations

Eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, are in court for online harassment. A few had modest digital reach, while several more were more prominent.

Each one is alleged to have making malicious comments about Brigitte Macron's identity. In certain cases, this included equating her age difference with the French president to inappropriate terms.

Upon being found guilty, they face up to two years in incarceration.

Consequences for Loved Ones

She, one of three children from her mother's first marriage, stated how the false claims have caused a "worsening of her physical state" and a "decline of her daily happiness".

She testified, "Not a day passes when someone fails to mention this to her."

Auzière emphasized the effects on loved ones, for example her grandchildren learning about malicious statements like "She is deceptive" or "Your grandmother is actually a man".

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

Judicial Proceedings Background

The legal proceedings is part of an ongoing effort in a wider judicial fight addressing the inaccurate allegation that Brigitte Macron is a man.

The Macrons have also filed a legal action in the United States over false statements involving a media personality who amplified the claim.

The legal filing asserts that the claim is completely false and points out that the name mentioned is in fact her brother.

Trial Testimonies

Throughout the proceedings, several defendants rejected the charges.

• An individual, holding a public position, asserted he "never intended to hurt anyone" and described his social media content as humorous.
• A fiction writer stated that his social media shares were intended as "irony" and voiced worry that the legal action could undermine "free speech".
• A third defendant explained he posted content because he felt it was a global issue with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The false theory regarding Brigitte Macron's sex gained traction to some extent because the Macrons' relationship has often been a point of interest in digital spaces.

The first lady, being two decades older than the president, first met Emmanuel Macron when working as a educator at his school.

Their relationship developed through drama activities, and they entered into marriage in that year, subsequent to her marriage dissolution.

Auzière finished her testimony by expressing that the inaccurate allegations have caused a "chaos that continues endlessly" for the first lady.