False Assertions on Social Media Harmed Brigitte Macron's Well-being, Daughter Tells Judges

The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a Paris court that false claims spread through social media—among them the groundless claim that she had a male birth identity—have negatively impacted her mother's daily existence.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a testifier in the trial of a group of defendants accused of digital bullying targeting the first lady.

Consequences on Everyday Activities

Auzière stated that the first lady now is always concerned about how she looks, such as her fashion choices to her posture, due to the fear that any image might be distorted to fuel hateful attacks.

"The consequence is that she always needs to be careful to her outfits, her posture, no matter what her actions in everyday routine," Auzière informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Allegations

Ten individuals, between 41 and 60 years old, are on trial for internet-based bullying. Several had limited online influence, while others were better known.

All is accused of spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality. In certain cases, this extended to comparing her age difference with the French president to inappropriate terms.

If convicted, they face a maximum of two years in incarceration.

Effect on Relatives

She, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's previous marriage, stated how the false claims have led to a "worsening of her physical state" and a "decline of her overall existence".

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

Auzière highlighted the effects on loved ones, for example the kids being exposed to malicious statements like "Your grandmother is not truthful" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She has no idea what to do about it," Auzière stated. "She didn't run for election, she never asked for public attention, and she is constantly facing this abuse."

Legal Battle History

This case is part of an ongoing effort in a wider judicial fight targeting the baseless theory that she is supposedly a man.

They have pursued a US lawsuit over false statements targeting a conservative podcaster who amplified the theory.

The case asserts that the accusation is totally unfounded and identifies that the person cited is in fact Brigitte Macron's older brother.

Trial Testimonies

In court, a few individuals denied the accusations.

• One defendant, now a deputy mayor, stated he "had no purpose to inflict damage" and described his posts as humorous.
• A fiction writer argued that his social media shares were intended as "satire" and highlighted apprehension that the legal action could undermine "the right to speak freely".
• A third defendant testified he posted posts since he thought it was an international matter with "consequences for France".

Relationship Background

The false theory regarding the first lady's identity gained traction partly because their marriage has frequently been a subject of discussion on the internet.

The first lady, aged significantly older than the president, initially encountered Emmanuel Macron when working as a teacher at his secondary school.

Their relationship grew through the school's theatre programme, and they entered into marriage in the following year, after Brigitte Macron's divorce.

Auzière concluded her testimony by expressing that the inaccurate allegations have caused a "chaos that never stops" for her mother.