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The French first lady's child, her daughter, testified to a Paris court that false claims spread through social media—including the unfounded rumor that the French first lady is transgender—have severely damaged her mother's daily existence.

She, a attorney, appeared as a testifier in the legal proceedings of 10 individuals allegedly involved in online harassment targeting the first lady.

Impact on Daily Life

Auzière stated that Brigitte Macron now is always concerned about her appearance, including her attire to how she stands, as a result of the concern that each snapshot could be misused to fuel hateful attacks.

"The outcome is that she constantly must be cautious to her outfits, her body language, no matter what her actions in day-to-day existence," Auzière testified.

Accused Individuals and Allegations

Eight men and two women, between 41 and 60 years old, are facing charges for online harassment. Several had modest digital reach, while the rest were better known.

Every defendant is alleged to have posting harmful statements about the first lady's identity. For some, this extended to comparing her age difference with her husband to hurtful comparisons.

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 initial union, stated how the false claims have caused a "decline of her well-being" and a "decline of her quality of life".

She explained, "Hardly a day goes by when a person avoids discussing these claims to her."

She emphasized the impact on loved ones, such as her grandchildren hearing malicious statements like "Your grandmother is deceptive" or "Your grandmother is actually a man".

"She does not know how to stop it," she testified. "She didn't run for election, she never asked for anything, and she is constantly experiencing this abuse."

Judicial Proceedings Context

The legal proceedings represents a recent development in a extended court case addressing the inaccurate allegation that Brigitte Macron was a man.

They have also filed a US lawsuit for defamation targeting a media personality who amplified the claim.

The legal filing asserts that the allegation is totally unfounded and notes that the name mentioned is actually her sibling.

Defendants' Responses

During the trial, a few individuals denied the charges.

• One defendant, now a deputy mayor, stated he "did not mean to inflict damage" and referred to his social media content as humorous.
• A fiction writer argued that his posts were meant to be "satire" and voiced worry that the legal action could endanger "freedom of expression".
• A third defendant explained he shared information because he felt it was an international matter with "implications for the country".

Personal History

The inaccurate claim regarding Brigitte Macron's identity spread to some extent because their union has long been a topic of comment in digital spaces.

She, being two decades older than her husband, originally knew Emmanuel Macron when working as a educator at the institution he attended.

The connection between them developed through theatrical projects, and they entered into marriage in that year, subsequent to her marriage dissolution.

Auzière finished her account by saying that the false claims have caused a "whirlwind that does not cease" for the first lady.