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The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a tribunal in Paris that misleading allegations circulating on the internet—including the groundless claim that the French first lady was born a man—have severely damaged her mother's quality of life.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, served as a witness in the legal proceedings of ten people allegedly involved in online harassment directed at her mother.

Impact on Daily Life

She testified that her mother now is always concerned about her demeanor, from the clothes she wears to the way she carries herself, because of the fear that any image may be distorted to fuel malicious comments.

"The result is that she always needs to be careful to her outfits, how she holds herself, irrespective of her actions in her daily life," she informed the judges.

Defendants and Allegations

Ten individuals, between 41 and 60 years old, are on trial for digital abuse. Several had a small social media following, while the rest were better known.

Every defendant is charged with posting harmful statements about Brigitte Macron's personal life. For some, this extended to comparing the disparity in years with the French president to hurtful comparisons.

If found responsible, they face as much as 24 months in incarceration.

Family Impact

She, one of three children from her mother's previous marriage, stated how the inaccurate allegations have led to a "deterioration of her health" and a "worsening of her quality of life".

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

Auzière highlighted the effects on the family, for example the kids hearing false assertions like "She is deceptive" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She is unsure what to do about it," Auzière remarked. "She's not elected, she didn't pursue any of this, and she is constantly facing these attacks."

Court Case Background

The Paris trial is the latest phase in a broader legal battle targeting the inaccurate allegation that Brigitte Macron is male.

The Macrons have pursued a US lawsuit for defamation involving a conservative podcaster who promoted the allegation.

The case asserts that the allegation is completely false and points out that the individual referenced is in fact Brigitte Macron's brother.

Defendants' Responses

Throughout the proceedings, several defendants disputed the accusations.

• An individual, holding a public position, stated he "did not mean to hurt anyone" and referred to his social media content as satirical.
• Another defendant argued that his posts were intended as "irony" and expressed concern that the trial could threaten "the right to speak freely".
• Another individual testified he disseminated information since he thought it was a global issue with "impact on the nation".

Relationship Background

The inaccurate claim concerning Brigitte Macron's gender circulated partly because the Macrons' relationship has frequently been a subject of discussion in digital spaces.

The first lady, aged two decades older than her husband, first met him when working as a teacher at his school.

Their relationship evolved through theatrical projects, and they married in that year, after her separation.

Auzière concluded her testimony by stating that the false claims have caused a "storm that never stops" for the first lady.