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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a tribunal in Paris that inaccurate assertions spread through social media—such as the baseless theory that the French first lady was born a man—have negatively impacted her mother's daily existence.

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

Consequences on Personal Routine

Auzière stated that her mother now worries constantly about her appearance, including her fashion choices to the way she carries herself, as a result of the concern that each snapshot might be manipulated to advance hateful attacks.

"The outcome is that she constantly has to pay attention to what she wears, her posture, irrespective of she's doing in her daily life," Auzière informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Accusations

The defendants, aged 41 to 60, are in court for digital abuse. Several had limited online influence, while others were better known.

Every defendant is alleged to have posting harmful statements about the first lady's identity. Among them, this extended to linking the disparity in years with her husband to inappropriate terms.

If convicted, they face a maximum of two years in prison.

Consequences for Loved Ones

Auzière, a family member from her mother's previous marriage, explained how the false claims have led to a "deterioration of her health" and a "deterioration of her daily happiness".

She said, "Scarcely a day passes when a person does not talk this to her."

Auzière emphasized the impact on her relatives, such as her grandchildren learning about hurtful comments like "She is lying" or "She is actually a man".

"She has no idea what to do about it," she remarked. "She didn't run for election, she didn't pursue anything, and she is permanently subjected to these assaults."

Legal Battle Context

The legal proceedings is the latest phase in a broader legal battle against the inaccurate allegation that the first lady is supposedly transgender.

The couple have pursued a US lawsuit alleging slander against a political commentator who amplified the claim.

The legal filing clarifies that the claim is completely false and identifies that the person cited is really her sibling.

Accused Individuals' Statements

During the trial, several defendants disputed the charges.

• A retired business owner, holding a public position, claimed he "never intended to hurt anyone" and described his posts as humorous.
• A well-known publicist argued that his online activity were presented as "irony" and expressed concern that the legal action could threaten "freedom of expression".
• Another individual explained he posted information as he believed it was an international matter with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The inaccurate claim about the first lady's gender circulated partly because their marriage has frequently been a point of interest online.

Brigitte Macron, aged 24 years older than the president, originally knew the future president when she was a teacher at his school.

Their relationship evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in 2007, subsequent to Brigitte Macron's marriage dissolution.

She concluded her account by stating that the baseless rumors have caused a "storm that never stops" for her mother.