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The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a tribunal in Paris that false claims circulating on the internet—among them the unfounded rumor that she had a male birth identity—have negatively impacted her mother's personal well-being.

Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a testifier in the court case of a group of defendants accused of online harassment directed at the first lady.

Consequences on Daily Life

She testified that the first lady now worries constantly about how she looks, from her fashion choices to the way she carries herself, as a result of the apprehension that every photograph might be manipulated to fuel negative campaigns.

"The outcome is that she always needs to be careful to her clothing, her posture, no matter what her activities in day-to-day existence," Auzière informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Charges

Ten individuals, between 41 and 60 years old, are facing charges for digital abuse. Several had limited online influence, while several more were more visible.

Every defendant is accused of posting harmful statements about Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality. For some, this extended to equating the disparity in years with her husband to offensive labels.

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

Family Impact

Auzière, one of three children from her mother's initial union, explained how the false claims have led to a "decline of her health" and a "decline of her overall existence".

She explained, "Not a day goes by when an individual fails to mention the issue to her."

Auzière highlighted the impact on her relatives, including the kids hearing false assertions like "Your grandmother is lying" or "She was born male".

"She does not know how to end it," she remarked. "She holds no office, she has not sought anything, and she is continually subjected to this abuse."

Court Case Background

This case is the latest phase in a wider judicial fight targeting the inaccurate allegation that she is a man.

The couple have also filed a legal action in the United States alleging slander targeting a conservative podcaster who promoted the claim.

The case clarifies that the claim is entirely inaccurate and points out that the person cited is actually Brigitte Macron's older brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

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

• One defendant, holding a public position, claimed he "never intended to inflict damage" and referred to his social media content as ironic.
• A fiction writer stated that his online activity were meant to be "satire" and expressed concern that the trial could threaten "free speech".
• A third defendant testified he disseminated information as he believed it was an international matter with "implications for the country".

Personal History

The baseless rumor concerning the first lady's identity spread to some extent because the Macrons' relationship has frequently been a subject of discussion online.

She, who is 24 years older than Emmanuel Macron, originally knew the future president when working as a educator at his secondary school.

Their relationship evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in 2007, following Brigitte Macron's separation.

She concluded her account by saying that the false claims have produced a "chaos that does not cease" for the first lady.