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The French first lady's daughter, her daughter, informed a tribunal in Paris that misleading allegations circulating on the internet—among them the baseless theory that the French first lady is transgender—have significantly harmed her mother's personal well-being.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a testifier in the court case of a group of defendants allegedly involved in digital bullying targeting the first lady.

Impact on Everyday Activities

Auzière stated that her mother now feels perpetual anxiety about her demeanor, such as her fashion choices to her posture, as a result of the concern that any image could be misused to fuel malicious comments.

"The consequence is that she systematically needs to be careful to her outfits, how she holds herself, irrespective of her activities in her daily life," she told the court.

Those on Trial and Accusations

Eight men and two women, between 41 and 60 years old, are in court for internet-based bullying. Several had limited online influence, while the rest were more visible.

Each one is accused of making malicious comments about the first lady's personal life. Among them, this involved linking the age gap with the French president to inappropriate terms.

If convicted, they may be sentenced to up to two years in incarceration.

Family Impact

She, one of three children from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, explained how the baseless rumors have resulted in a "decline of her well-being" and a "worsening of her quality of life".

She explained, "Not a day passes when a person avoids discussing this to her."

She highlighted the repercussions on her relatives, including the younger generation learning about hurtful comments like "She is not truthful" or "Your grandmother is your grandfather".

"She has no idea how to stop it," Auzière testified. "She holds no office, she didn't pursue public attention, and she is constantly experiencing this abuse."

Court Case Context

The Paris trial is the latest phase in a broader legal battle addressing the false claim that the first lady was transgender.

The couple have pursued a legal action in the United States alleging slander against a media personality who promoted the claim.

The case asserts that the claim is entirely inaccurate and points out that the individual referenced is in fact Brigitte Macron's brother.

Defendants' Responses

During the trial, several defendants disputed the allegations.

• An individual, serving as a local official, stated he "had no purpose to inflict damage" and described his posts as satirical.
• A well-known publicist argued that his social media shares were meant to be "irony" and voiced worry that the case could endanger "the right to speak freely".
• An art gallery owner said he shared posts since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "impact on the nation".

Relationship Background

The false theory concerning Brigitte Macron's identity spread in part because the Macrons' relationship has often been a subject of discussion on the internet.

She, who is two decades older than Emmanuel Macron, initially encountered Emmanuel Macron when working as a teacher at his secondary school.

Their relationship evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they entered into marriage in 2007, subsequent to her divorce.

She finished her testimony by expressing that the inaccurate allegations have produced a "whirlwind that does not cease" for Brigitte Macron.