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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a Paris court that misleading allegations online—such as the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron is transgender—have significantly harmed her mother's quality of life.

Auzière, a legal professional, was called as a witness in the court case of ten people allegedly involved in online harassment directed at her mother.

Consequences on Everyday Activities

Auzière testified that the first lady now is always concerned about her appearance, including her attire to how she stands, due to the fear that each snapshot could be misused to support negative campaigns.

"The consequence is that she constantly has to pay attention to what she wears, how she holds herself, regardless of she's doing in everyday routine," she testified.

Defendants and Accusations

The defendants, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for internet-based bullying. Some had limited online influence, while several more were more visible.

All is charged with spreading defamatory content about the first lady's personal life. For some, this involved equating her age difference with her husband to hurtful comparisons.

If convicted, they face as much as 24 months in prison.

Consequences for Loved Ones

She, a family member from her mother's previous marriage, explained how the inaccurate allegations have resulted in a "deterioration of her physical state" and a "decline of her quality of life".

She testified, "Hardly a day goes by when a person fails to mention this to her."

Auzière highlighted the effects on her relatives, including her grandchildren being exposed to false assertions like "Brigitte is deceptive" or "She was born male".

"She has no idea what to do about it," Auzière testified. "She's not elected, she didn't pursue any of this, and she is permanently experiencing this abuse."

Legal Battle History

The legal proceedings is the latest phase in a wider judicial fight targeting the baseless theory that the first lady is transgender.

The Macrons have also filed a legal action in the United States alleging slander involving a media personality who promoted the claim.

The lawsuit clarifies that the allegation is totally unfounded and notes that the name mentioned is actually Brigitte Macron's brother.

Defendants' Responses

In court, a few individuals rejected the charges.

• One defendant, serving as a local official, asserted he "never intended to cause harm" and referred to his social media content as humorous.
• Another defendant stated that his online activity were intended as "irony" and expressed concern that the trial could threaten "the right to speak freely".
• A third defendant testified he disseminated information as he believed it was a worldwide topic with "consequences for France".

Personal History

The inaccurate claim concerning Brigitte Macron's identity gained traction in part because their union has long been a point of interest on the internet.

The first lady, being significantly older than her husband, originally knew the future president when serving as a instructor at the institution he attended.

The connection between them grew through theatrical projects, and they entered into marriage in 2007, after Brigitte Macron's marriage dissolution.

She finished her testimony by stating that the inaccurate allegations have produced a "whirlwind that does not cease" for the first lady.