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Brigitte Macron's child, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a Paris court that inaccurate assertions spread through social media—among them the unfounded rumor that she was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's personal well-being.

She, a attorney, served as a testifier in the court case of ten people allegedly involved in digital bullying against Brigitte Macron.

Impact on Daily Life

Auzière stated that Brigitte Macron now is always concerned about her appearance, from her fashion choices to how she stands, because of the apprehension that any image may be manipulated to fuel hateful attacks.

"The result is that she always has to pay attention to her outfits, her posture, irrespective of her activities in day-to-day existence," she testified.

Defendants and Charges

Eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, are in court for online harassment. Some had limited online influence, while others were better known.

Each one is alleged to have posting harmful statements about Brigitte Macron's personal life. In certain cases, this extended to equating her age difference with the French president to hurtful comparisons.

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

Family Impact

She, a family member from her mother's previous marriage, stated how the inaccurate allegations have led to a "worsening of her physical state" and a "deterioration of her quality of life".

She testified, "Scarcely a day passes when a person does not talk these claims to her."

She emphasized the effects on her relatives, such as the younger generation being exposed to hurtful comments like "Brigitte is deceptive" or "Your grandmother is actually a man".

"She has no idea what to do about it," she testified. "She holds no office, she never asked for anything, and she is permanently experiencing these assaults."

Legal Battle History

The legal proceedings is the latest phase in a wider judicial fight against the false claim that Brigitte Macron is supposedly male.

The Macrons have pursued a legal action in the United States over false statements against a media personality who promoted the claim.

The legal filing states that the allegation is completely false and identifies that the individual referenced is actually Brigitte Macron's older brother.

Defendants' Responses

During the trial, a few individuals denied the accusations.

• A retired business owner, now a deputy mayor, stated he "had no purpose to inflict damage" and described his posts as ironic.
• A well-known publicist stated that his social media shares were intended as "humor" and expressed concern that the trial could undermine "the right to speak freely".
• An art gallery owner explained he shared content because he felt it was a global issue with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The inaccurate claim concerning the first lady's gender circulated to some extent because their union has often been a point of interest on the internet.

Brigitte Macron, being two decades older than the president, initially encountered Emmanuel Macron when serving as a educator at his secondary school.

The connection between them evolved through theatrical projects, and they entered into marriage in the following year, following Brigitte Macron's divorce.

She finished her testimony by stating that the baseless rumors have caused a "chaos that does not cease" for the first lady.