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The French first lady's daughter, her daughter, testified to a judicial body in Paris that inaccurate assertions circulating on the internet—including the unfounded rumor that the French first lady was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's quality of life.

Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, served as a testifier in the court case of ten people allegedly involved in internet-based abuse targeting Brigitte Macron.

Consequences on Daily Life

She testified that her mother now feels perpetual anxiety about her appearance, including her attire to her posture, as a result of the apprehension that each snapshot might be manipulated to advance negative campaigns.

"The result is that she always has to pay attention to her outfits, how she holds herself, no matter what 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 the rest were better known.

All is alleged to have spreading defamatory content about the first lady's personal life. For some, this included comparing the age gap with the French president to offensive labels.

Upon being found guilty, they face as much as 24 months in incarceration.

Effect on Relatives

She, a family member from Brigitte Macron's initial union, stated how the inaccurate allegations have caused a "worsening of her well-being" and a "decline of her daily happiness".

She said, "Not a day goes by when a person fails to mention this to her."

Auzière highlighted the impact on her relatives, including her grandchildren being exposed to false assertions like "Your grandmother is deceptive" or "Your grandmother is actually a man".

"She does not know how to end it," she remarked. "She's not elected, she never asked for any of this, and she is permanently subjected to these assaults."

Legal Battle History

The Paris trial is part of an ongoing effort in a broader legal battle targeting the inaccurate allegation that Brigitte Macron was male.

The couple have pursued a US lawsuit over false statements involving a media personality who spread the theory.

The lawsuit asserts that the allegation is completely false and identifies that the person cited is actually her older brother.

Defendants' Responses

In court, several defendants disputed the charges.

• One defendant, serving as a local official, claimed he "did not mean to hurt anyone" and referred to his social media content as ironic.
• Another defendant argued that his posts were intended as "irony" and voiced worry that the case could endanger "free speech".
• Another individual explained he posted information because he felt it was a worldwide topic with "implications for the country".

Personal History

The baseless rumor regarding the first lady's gender gained traction in part because their marriage has frequently been a topic of comment on the internet.

Brigitte Macron, being significantly older than Emmanuel Macron, initially encountered him when she was a instructor at the institution he attended.

Their bond evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in 2007, following her separation.

Auzière finished her account by expressing that the baseless rumors have caused a "storm that never stops" for Brigitte Macron.