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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a Paris court that false claims spread through social media—such as the groundless claim that Brigitte Macron was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's daily existence.

Auzière, a legal professional, appeared as a testifier in the court case of 10 individuals accused of digital bullying directed at Brigitte Macron.

Impact on Daily Life

She stated that her mother now is always concerned about her demeanor, from her fashion choices to the way she carries herself, as a result of the concern that each snapshot might be manipulated to fuel malicious comments.

"The outcome is that she always must be cautious to what she wears, how she holds herself, irrespective of she's doing in everyday routine," she informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Accusations

The defendants, aged 41 to 60, are in court for digital abuse. Some had a small social media following, while several more were more prominent.

Each one is accused of making malicious comments about the first lady's gender and sexuality. For some, this extended to linking the age gap with her husband to offensive labels.

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

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, one of three children from her mother's first marriage, described how the false claims have caused a "deterioration of her health" and a "decline of her overall existence".

She said, "Not a day goes by when a person fails to mention this to her."

She pointed out the repercussions on the family, such as the kids learning about false assertions like "Your grandmother is not truthful" or "She was born male".

"She is unsure how to end it," Auzière remarked. "She holds no office, she never asked for any of this, and she is permanently experiencing this abuse."

Court Case Background

The legal proceedings is part of an ongoing effort in a broader legal battle addressing the false claim that the first lady is supposedly male.

The couple have pursued a legal action in the United States over false statements targeting a media personality who amplified the allegation.

The lawsuit asserts that the allegation is entirely inaccurate and notes that the individual referenced is actually her brother.

Defendants' Responses

During the trial, several defendants denied the allegations.

• An individual, serving as a local official, asserted he "did not mean to inflict damage" and described his online statements as humorous.
• A well-known publicist argued that his posts were meant to be "humor" and voiced worry that the trial could endanger "the right to speak freely".
• A third defendant testified he shared posts since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The inaccurate claim about the first lady's sex circulated to some extent because their marriage has often been a point of interest on the internet.

Brigitte Macron, aged two decades older than her husband, first met him when working as a instructor at the institution he attended.

Their bond developed through theatrical projects, and they entered into marriage in 2007, after Brigitte Macron's separation.

Auzière concluded her statement by expressing that the false claims have produced a "storm that never stops" for the first lady.