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The French first lady's child, her daughter, testified to a tribunal in Paris that inaccurate assertions circulating on the internet—including the unfounded rumor that the French first lady had a male birth identity—have severely damaged her mother's quality of life.

She, a legal professional, was called as a witness in the court case of 10 individuals accused of digital bullying targeting her mother.

Consequences on Personal Routine

She testified that her mother now is always concerned about her appearance, including her fashion choices to how she stands, due to the apprehension that any image might be distorted to support malicious comments.

"The consequence is that she constantly has to pay attention to what she wears, her body language, irrespective of her activities in her daily life," Auzière told the court.

Defendants and Charges

The defendants, between 41 and 60 years old, are facing charges for online harassment. Some had limited online influence, while several more were better known.

All is alleged to have making malicious comments about the first lady's gender and sexuality. In certain cases, this involved linking the age gap with the French president to offensive labels.

Upon being found guilty, they face as much as 24 months in prison.

Effect on Relatives

She, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's initial union, stated how the inaccurate allegations have caused a "decline of her health" and a "deterioration of her daily happiness".

She testified, "Hardly a day goes by when a person fails to mention this to her."

Auzière emphasized the impact on loved ones, including the kids learning about hurtful comments like "Your grandmother is deceptive" or "She was born male".

"She does not know what to do about it," she testified. "She didn't run for election, she has not sought public attention, and she is continually experiencing these attacks."

Legal Battle History

The legal proceedings represents a recent development in a broader legal battle targeting the false claim that she was male.

They have also filed a US lawsuit over false statements targeting a political commentator who amplified the claim.

The case states that the allegation is completely false and notes that the name mentioned is really Brigitte Macron's brother.

Trial Testimonies

Throughout the proceedings, some of the accused denied the accusations.

• One defendant, holding a public position, claimed he "had no purpose to hurt anyone" and referred to his social media content as humorous.
• Another defendant claimed that his social media shares were meant to be "irony" and expressed concern that the case could threaten "freedom of expression".
• A third defendant explained he disseminated information since he thought it was an international matter with "impact on the nation".

Relationship Background

The inaccurate claim regarding Brigitte Macron's identity circulated partly because their marriage has often been a subject of discussion in digital spaces.

Brigitte Macron, who is significantly older than her husband, initially encountered Emmanuel Macron when working as a instructor at his school.

Their bond evolved through drama activities, and they wed in that year, after her marriage dissolution.

Auzière finished her statement by saying that the baseless rumors have caused a "storm that does not cease" for her mother.