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The French first lady's daughter, her daughter, informed a tribunal in Paris that false claims circulating on the internet—among them the baseless theory that she was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's quality of life.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, was called as a testifier in the legal proceedings of ten people accused of digital bullying directed at the first lady.

Effects on Everyday Activities

Auzière explained that Brigitte Macron now is always concerned about her appearance, including the clothes she wears to the way she carries herself, because of the fear that every photograph might be distorted to advance negative campaigns.

"The outcome is that she systematically must be cautious to her outfits, her body language, irrespective of her activities in day-to-day existence," Auzière testified.

Defendants and Accusations

Ten individuals, aged 41 to 60, are in court for internet-based bullying. Several had modest digital reach, while several more were more prominent.

All is charged with spreading defamatory content about the first lady's gender and sexuality. For some, this extended to linking the age gap with the French president to inappropriate terms.

Upon being found guilty, they could receive a maximum of two years in jail.

Effect on Relatives

She, one of three children from Brigitte Macron's initial union, described how the baseless rumors have caused a "deterioration of her well-being" and a "deterioration of her quality of life".

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

She emphasized the repercussions on the family, including the younger generation learning about malicious statements like "Your grandmother is deceptive" or "Your grandmother is your grandfather".

"She is unsure what to do about it," Auzière testified. "She didn't run for election, she didn't pursue public attention, and she is continually experiencing this abuse."

Legal Battle Context

This case is part of an ongoing effort in a broader legal battle targeting the false claim that she is supposedly transgender.

They have pursued a legal action in the United States for defamation involving a political commentator who promoted the claim.

The legal filing asserts that the accusation is totally unfounded and notes that the person cited is actually her sibling.

Defendants' Responses

During the trial, some of the accused rejected the accusations.

• One defendant, serving as a local official, stated he "did not mean to hurt anyone" and referred to his online statements as satirical.
• Another defendant claimed that his posts were intended as "humor" and highlighted apprehension that the trial could undermine "the right to speak freely".
• A third defendant explained he posted posts as he believed it was a global issue with "consequences for France".

Past Context

The inaccurate claim regarding Brigitte Macron's sex gained traction in part because the Macrons' relationship has long been a subject of discussion online.

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

The connection between them grew through the school's theatre programme, and they married in that year, after her divorce.

She concluded her statement by stating that the inaccurate allegations have caused a "storm that continues endlessly" for the first lady.