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Brigitte Macron's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, informed a judicial body in Paris that false claims spread through social media—such as the unfounded rumor that the French first lady is transgender—have severely damaged her mother's personal well-being.

She, a legal professional, served as a testifier in the trial of 10 individuals allegedly involved in internet-based abuse directed at her mother.

Consequences on Everyday Activities

She testified that her mother now is always concerned about her appearance, including her attire to how she stands, because of the fear that any image may be misused to fuel hateful attacks.

"The result is that she systematically has to pay attention to what she wears, her posture, regardless of her actions in her daily life," she testified.

Defendants and Accusations

Eight men and two women, between 41 and 60 years old, are in court for digital abuse. Several had a small social media following, while the rest were more prominent.

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

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

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, one of three children from her mother's previous marriage, stated how the baseless rumors have resulted in a "worsening of her physical state" and a "worsening of her quality of life".

She testified, "Not a day passes when someone avoids discussing this to her."

Auzière pointed out the impact on the family, such as her grandchildren learning about malicious statements like "Brigitte is lying" or "Your grandmother is your grandfather".

"She has no idea how to stop it," she stated. "She's not elected, she has not sought anything, and she is permanently facing this abuse."

Court Case Context

The Paris trial represents a recent development in a broader legal battle targeting the false claim that she is supposedly transgender.

They have pursued a US lawsuit alleging slander against a media personality who spread the theory.

The legal filing states that the accusation is totally unfounded and identifies that the name mentioned is in fact her sibling.

Defendants' Responses

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

• A retired business owner, holding a public position, claimed he "never intended to inflict damage" and described his online statements as satirical.
• Another defendant claimed that his posts were presented as "satire" and expressed concern that the case could threaten "the right to speak freely".
• A third defendant explained he posted content as he believed it was a worldwide topic with "impact on the nation".

Relationship Background

The baseless rumor regarding Brigitte Macron's sex gained traction in part because their marriage has often been a subject of discussion on the internet.

Brigitte Macron, aged significantly older than her husband, first met him when she was a instructor at his secondary school.

Their bond evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they married in that year, subsequent to Brigitte Macron's marriage dissolution.

She concluded her statement by stating that the false claims have created a "chaos that does not cease" for Brigitte Macron.