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The French first lady's child, her daughter, has told a judicial body in Paris that false claims circulating on the internet—such as the unfounded rumor that Brigitte Macron was born a man—have severely damaged her mother's quality of life.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a witness in the legal proceedings of a group of defendants accused of internet-based abuse targeting the first lady.

Consequences on Daily Life

She explained that the first lady now is always concerned about her demeanor, including her attire to the way she carries herself, because of the fear that every photograph may be misused to support hateful attacks.

"The outcome is that she constantly must be cautious to her clothing, how she holds herself, regardless of her activities in her daily life," Auzière testified.

Those on Trial and Charges

Ten individuals, in that age range, are facing charges for digital abuse. A few had limited online influence, while several more were more prominent.

All is charged with spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's identity. Among them, this included linking her age difference with the French president to offensive labels.

If convicted, they could receive a maximum of two years in jail.

Consequences for Loved Ones

She, a family member from her mother's first marriage, stated how the false claims have led to a "worsening of her health" and a "decline of her daily happiness".

She testified, "Scarcely a day goes by when an individual fails to mention these claims to her."

She highlighted the repercussions on her relatives, for example the younger generation being exposed to hurtful comments like "Your grandmother is lying" or "She is actually a man".

"She is unsure how to end it," Auzière testified. "She's not elected, she has not sought public attention, and she is permanently subjected to these attacks."

Legal Battle History

The legal proceedings represents a recent development in a wider judicial fight addressing the inaccurate allegation that she is male.

They have initiated a legal action in the United States for defamation against a conservative podcaster who promoted the allegation.

The case clarifies that the accusation is completely false and points out that the individual referenced is really her older brother.

Defendants' Responses

In court, some of the accused rejected the allegations.

• A retired business owner, now a deputy mayor, claimed he "never intended to hurt anyone" and referred to his posts as satirical.
• Another defendant argued that his posts were meant to be "humor" and highlighted apprehension that the trial could endanger "free speech".
• An art gallery owner explained he shared posts as he believed it was a global issue with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The false theory concerning the first lady's identity spread in part because the Macrons' relationship has frequently been a topic of comment in digital spaces.

Brigitte Macron, aged 24 years older than her husband, originally knew the future president when serving as a instructor at the institution he attended.

The connection between them developed through the school's theatre programme, and they married in that year, following her separation.

Auzière concluded her statement by saying that the baseless rumors have caused a "chaos that continues endlessly" for her mother.