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The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a judicial body in Paris that misleading allegations circulating on the internet—among them the groundless claim that she was born a man—have severely damaged her mother's personal well-being.

She, a legal professional, appeared as a witness in the legal proceedings of 10 individuals facing charges for digital bullying against the first lady.

Consequences on Daily Life

She explained that the first lady now worries constantly about how she looks, such as her attire to how she stands, due to the concern that each snapshot might be manipulated to fuel malicious comments.

"The result is that she always has to pay attention to her clothing, her body language, irrespective of her activities in day-to-day existence," Auzière informed the judges.

Defendants and Accusations

Eight men and two women, in that age range, are in court for internet-based bullying. Some had a small social media following, while others were more visible.

All is charged with posting harmful statements about the first lady's gender and sexuality. Among them, this extended to equating the age gap with the French president to offensive labels.

Upon being found guilty, they could receive a maximum of two years in prison.

Family Impact

She, a daughter from her mother's previous marriage, stated how the baseless rumors have led to a "worsening of her health" and a "deterioration of her overall existence".

She explained, "Hardly a day passes when someone avoids discussing these claims to her."

She emphasized the impact on the family, including her grandchildren hearing malicious statements like "She is lying" or "Your grandmother is actually a man".

"She does not know how to stop it," Auzière testified. "She holds no office, she didn't pursue any of this, and she is constantly experiencing this abuse."

Legal Battle Background

This case is part of an ongoing effort in a broader legal battle against the inaccurate allegation that she was male.

The couple have also filed a legal action in the United States over false statements against a media personality who promoted the claim.

The legal filing states that the claim is entirely inaccurate and notes that the name mentioned is actually her brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

In court, a few individuals rejected the charges.

• An individual, serving as a local official, claimed he "did not mean to inflict damage" and described his posts as humorous.
• Another defendant argued that his posts were presented as "humor" and highlighted apprehension that the trial could undermine "freedom of expression".
• A third defendant testified he posted content because he felt it was a global issue with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The inaccurate claim about Brigitte Macron's gender circulated to some extent because their marriage has frequently been a point of interest online.

Brigitte Macron, who is significantly older than the president, originally knew him when serving as a teacher at his school.

Their relationship developed through the school's theatre programme, and they entered into marriage in 2007, subsequent to her divorce.

She finished her account by stating that the false claims have created a "whirlwind that never stops" for the first lady.