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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—including the unfounded rumor that Brigitte Macron had a male birth identity—have negatively impacted her mother's daily existence.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, was called as a witness in the court case of 10 individuals facing charges for online harassment directed at Brigitte Macron.

Effects on Daily Life

She testified that Brigitte Macron now feels perpetual anxiety about her appearance, including the clothes she wears to the way she carries herself, because of the apprehension that every photograph may be misused to advance hateful attacks.

"The consequence is that she systematically has to pay attention to what she wears, her body language, regardless of she's doing in her daily life," Auzière testified.

Accused Individuals and Accusations

The defendants, in that age range, are on trial for digital abuse. A few had a small social media following, while the rest were more visible.

All is alleged to have spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's identity. For some, this involved comparing her age difference with her husband to inappropriate terms.

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

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, a daughter from her mother's previous marriage, stated how the baseless rumors have resulted in a "deterioration of her well-being" and a "worsening of her quality of life".

She testified, "Hardly a day goes by when a person avoids discussing these claims to her."

She highlighted the repercussions on her relatives, such as the kids being exposed to hurtful comments like "She is deceptive" or "Your grandmother is actually a man".

"She does not know what to do about it," she remarked. "She holds no office, she never asked for anything, and she is continually subjected to these assaults."

Legal Battle Context

This case is the latest phase in a wider judicial fight against the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron is male.

The couple have initiated a case in America over false statements involving a media personality who promoted the claim.

The lawsuit clarifies that the claim is completely false and points out that the individual referenced is really Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Accused Individuals' Statements

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

• One defendant, holding a public position, claimed he "had no purpose to hurt anyone" and described his online statements as humorous.
• A well-known publicist stated that his posts were meant to be "satire" and highlighted apprehension that the case could undermine "free speech".
• A third defendant explained he posted content because he felt it was a global issue with "impact on the nation".

Relationship Background

The false theory about the first lady's identity circulated partly because the Macrons' relationship has frequently been a topic of comment on the internet.

Brigitte Macron, who is significantly older than her husband, initially encountered the future president when working as a educator at his secondary school.

Their bond developed through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in the following year, subsequent to Brigitte Macron's divorce.

Auzière wrapped up her statement by expressing that the false claims have caused a "chaos that continues endlessly" for Brigitte Macron.