Misleading Allegations Online Harmed Brigitte Macron's Well-being, Child Tells the Tribunal

Brigitte Macron's child, Tiphaine Auzière, informed a tribunal in Paris that false claims online—including the unfounded rumor that the French first lady is transgender—have significantly harmed her mother's daily existence.

Auzière, a legal professional, was called as a testifier in the legal proceedings of 10 individuals facing charges for online harassment directed at the first lady.

Effects on Daily Life

Auzière stated that her mother now is always concerned about her demeanor, from her attire to the way she carries herself, because of the concern that each snapshot might be distorted to fuel malicious comments.

"The result is that she systematically needs to be careful to what she wears, how she holds herself, irrespective of she's doing in her daily life," Auzière informed the judges.

Defendants and Charges

Eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, are in court for digital abuse. A few had limited online influence, while several more were more visible.

Each one is charged with spreading defamatory content about the first lady's identity. In certain cases, this included equating her age difference with her husband to offensive labels.

If convicted, they could receive up to two years in incarceration.

Family Impact

She, a family member from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, stated how the baseless rumors have caused a "deterioration of her well-being" and a "worsening of her quality of life".

She explained, "Scarcely a day passes when an individual fails to mention the issue to her."

She pointed out the impact on the family, such as the younger generation being exposed to hurtful comments like "Brigitte is lying" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She does not know how to stop it," Auzière testified. "She holds no office, she never asked for public attention, and she is permanently facing these assaults."

Court Case Background

The legal proceedings is part of an ongoing effort in a broader legal battle against the false claim that the first lady was a man.

The Macrons have initiated a US lawsuit over false statements involving a political commentator who promoted the claim.

The lawsuit states that the accusation is completely false and notes that the name mentioned is actually Brigitte Macron's older brother.

Defendants' Responses

During the trial, a few individuals disputed the allegations.

• One defendant, now a deputy mayor, stated he "had no purpose to hurt anyone" and referred to his online statements as ironic.
• Another defendant stated that his posts were intended as "satire" and voiced worry that the trial could undermine "freedom of expression".
• Another individual said he shared information since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "impact on the nation".

Relationship Background

The inaccurate claim concerning the first lady's sex gained traction to some extent because the Macrons' relationship has long been a point of interest in digital spaces.

Brigitte Macron, who is 24 years older than her husband, initially encountered him when working as a educator at the institution he attended.

The connection between them evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they entered into marriage in 2007, after Brigitte Macron's marriage dissolution.

She finished her account by expressing that the baseless rumors have created a "storm that does not cease" for the first lady.