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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a judicial body in Paris that misleading allegations circulating on the internet—such as the baseless theory that the French first lady had a male birth identity—have negatively impacted her mother's personal well-being.

She, a legal professional, served as a testifier in the court case of a group of defendants facing charges for digital bullying directed at her mother.

Impact on Daily Life

She testified that Brigitte Macron now feels perpetual anxiety about her appearance, such as the clothes she wears to how she stands, as a result of the fear that every photograph may be misused to support hateful attacks.

"The consequence is that she always must be cautious to her outfits, how she holds herself, irrespective of her actions in day-to-day existence," she testified.

Defendants and Allegations

Eight men and two women, in that age range, are on trial for online harassment. A few had a small social media following, while others were more prominent.

All is alleged to have spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality. In certain cases, this involved linking the disparity in years with her husband to hurtful comparisons.

Upon being found guilty, they face up to two years in incarceration.

Consequences for Loved Ones

Auzière, a daughter from her mother's first marriage, stated how the inaccurate allegations have led to a "deterioration of her health" and a "decline of her quality of life".

She said, "Scarcely a day passes when an individual fails to mention this to her."

She highlighted the effects on the family, including her grandchildren being exposed to false assertions like "Brigitte is not truthful" or "She is your grandfather".

"She is unsure how to stop it," Auzière remarked. "She's not elected, she never asked for public attention, and she is constantly facing these assaults."

Judicial Proceedings Background

The Paris trial represents a recent development in a extended court case against the false claim that Brigitte Macron is supposedly a man.

They have also filed a case in America for defamation involving a political commentator who spread the theory.

The legal filing states that the accusation is totally unfounded and points out that the individual referenced is in fact Brigitte Macron's older brother.

Defendants' Responses

In court, some of the accused disputed the charges.

• An individual, serving as a local official, claimed he "did not mean to hurt anyone" and referred to his social media content as satirical.
• A fiction writer claimed that his posts were presented as "satire" and expressed concern that the legal action could endanger "free speech".
• A third defendant said he posted information as he believed it was a global issue with "implications for the country".

Relationship Background

The false theory concerning the first lady's identity circulated to some extent because their marriage has frequently been a point of interest on the internet.

The first lady, aged 24 years older than Emmanuel Macron, first met him when serving as a educator at his secondary school.

Their bond evolved through drama activities, and they wed in that year, after her marriage dissolution.

She finished her testimony by saying that the baseless rumors have caused a "chaos that continues endlessly" for her mother.