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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—among them the unfounded rumor that she is transgender—have significantly harmed her mother's quality of life.

She, a attorney, was called as a testifier in the legal proceedings of a group of defendants facing charges for online harassment targeting Brigitte Macron.

Impact on Daily Life

She testified that the first lady now is always concerned about her appearance, including her attire to her posture, due to the fear that any image could be misused to advance malicious comments.

"The consequence is that she systematically must be cautious to what she wears, her posture, regardless of her activities in her daily life," Auzière informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Allegations

Ten individuals, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for internet-based bullying. Some had limited online influence, while the rest were more prominent.

All is accused of making malicious comments about the first lady's personal life. In certain cases, this involved linking the age gap with the French president to offensive labels.

Upon being found guilty, they could receive as much as 24 months in jail.

Effect on Relatives

She, one of three children from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, stated how the baseless rumors have led to a "deterioration of her health" and a "deterioration of her daily happiness".

She testified, "Hardly a day passes when an individual does not talk the issue to her."

She pointed out the effects on loved ones, for example the kids learning about malicious statements like "She is not truthful" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She is unsure how to stop it," she testified. "She's not elected, she never asked for public attention, and she is permanently experiencing these assaults."

Judicial Proceedings Background

This case represents a recent development in a wider judicial fight against the false claim that the first lady is supposedly transgender.

They have pursued a US lawsuit for defamation targeting a conservative podcaster who promoted the theory.

The lawsuit states that the claim is totally unfounded and points out that the name mentioned is in fact her brother.

Trial Testimonies

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

• A retired business owner, now a deputy mayor, stated he "had no purpose to inflict damage" and referred to his online statements as humorous.
• Another defendant claimed that his posts were presented as "humor" and expressed concern that the case could endanger "the right to speak freely".
• A third defendant explained he shared information as he believed it was an international matter with "implications for the country".

Past Context

The false theory regarding the first lady's sex spread partly because their marriage has frequently been a topic of comment online.

She, being significantly older than Emmanuel Macron, initially encountered Emmanuel Macron when she was a educator at his secondary school.

Their bond developed through drama activities, and they wed in the following year, subsequent to her marriage dissolution.

She finished her statement by saying that the false claims have created a "whirlwind that continues endlessly" for her mother.