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The French first lady's child, her daughter, has told a judicial body in Paris that false claims spread through social media—such as the baseless theory that the French first lady was born a man—have negatively impacted her mother's personal well-being.

She, a legal professional, appeared as a witness in the trial of 10 individuals accused of online harassment targeting Brigitte Macron.

Effects on Personal Routine

She explained that the first lady now is always concerned about her demeanor, including her fashion choices to her posture, because of the concern that any image might be misused to support malicious comments.

"The outcome is that she constantly must be cautious to her clothing, her body language, regardless of her activities in everyday routine," Auzière testified.

Accused Individuals and Allegations

Eight men and two women, between 41 and 60 years old, are facing charges for online harassment. Some had a small social media following, while others were more visible.

Every defendant is alleged to have posting harmful statements about the first lady's gender and sexuality. In certain cases, this included linking the disparity in years with the French president to hurtful comparisons.

If found responsible, they face up to two years in jail.

Family Impact

She, a daughter from her mother's previous marriage, explained how the baseless rumors have caused a "decline of her health" and a "decline of her overall existence".

She explained, "Scarcely a day goes by when a person fails to mention the issue to her."

She emphasized the repercussions on loved ones, such as her grandchildren being exposed to malicious statements like "Brigitte is deceptive" or "Your grandmother is actually a man".

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

Court Case History

The legal proceedings is part of an ongoing effort in a wider judicial fight addressing the false claim that Brigitte Macron is transgender.

The Macrons have initiated a legal action in the United States over false statements involving a conservative podcaster who spread the claim.

The lawsuit asserts that the claim is totally unfounded and notes that the person cited is in fact her brother.

Defendants' Responses

During the trial, a few individuals denied the accusations.

• An individual, now a deputy mayor, asserted he "never intended to hurt anyone" and described his posts as ironic.
• A well-known publicist stated that his social media shares were presented as "humor" and voiced worry that the trial could threaten "free speech".
• Another individual testified he disseminated posts as he believed it was an international matter with "consequences for France".

Personal History

The inaccurate claim concerning Brigitte Macron's gender circulated to some extent because their marriage has frequently been a point of interest on the internet.

The first lady, aged two decades older than her husband, first met Emmanuel Macron when serving as a instructor at his school.

Their relationship grew through theatrical projects, and they entered into marriage in that year, following her separation.

Auzière concluded her statement by saying that the baseless rumors have caused a "chaos that never stops" for her mother.