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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a Paris court that false claims online—among them the baseless theory that she was born a man—have severely damaged her mother's personal well-being.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a testifier in the trial of a group of defendants allegedly involved in digital bullying targeting her mother.

Effects on Personal Routine

She explained that Brigitte Macron now is always concerned about her demeanor, such as her fashion choices to how she stands, as a result of the concern that any image could be distorted to advance negative campaigns.

"The outcome is that she always needs to be careful to her clothing, her body language, irrespective of she's doing in everyday routine," she informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Charges

Eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for online harassment. Some had modest digital reach, while the rest were more prominent.

All is alleged to have spreading defamatory content about the first lady's personal life. For some, this involved comparing her age difference with her husband to inappropriate terms.

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

Consequences for Loved Ones

Auzière, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's initial union, explained how the baseless rumors have resulted in a "deterioration of her well-being" and a "worsening of her overall existence".

She testified, "Scarcely a day passes when someone avoids discussing the issue to her."

She pointed out the effects on her relatives, such as the kids learning about false assertions like "Brigitte is lying" or "Your grandmother is your grandfather".

"She has no idea how to end it," Auzière testified. "She's not elected, she has not sought any of this, and she is permanently facing these attacks."

Legal Battle Context

The legal proceedings represents a recent development in a wider judicial fight addressing the false claim that the first lady was male.

They have also filed a US lawsuit alleging slander against a political commentator who promoted the theory.

The lawsuit clarifies that the allegation is completely false and identifies that the name mentioned is in fact Brigitte Macron's older brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

In court, some of the accused rejected the accusations.

• An individual, serving as a local official, claimed he "never intended to cause harm" and referred to his online statements as ironic.
• A fiction writer claimed that his social media shares were presented as "satire" and highlighted apprehension that the legal action could endanger "free speech".
• A third defendant testified he shared information since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "consequences for France".

Personal History

The inaccurate claim regarding Brigitte Macron's sex spread in part because their union has often been a topic of comment on the internet.

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

Their relationship evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they entered into marriage in 2007, after her separation.

Auzière wrapped up her testimony by saying that the false claims have produced a "whirlwind that does not cease" for her mother.