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The French first lady's child, her daughter, has told a judicial body in Paris that inaccurate assertions spread through social media—such as the baseless theory that she was born a man—have negatively impacted her mother's personal well-being.

Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a testifier in the legal proceedings of a group of defendants facing charges for internet-based abuse targeting Brigitte Macron.

Consequences on Daily Life

Auzière testified that the first lady now feels perpetual anxiety about her appearance, such as the clothes she wears to her posture, because of the concern that any image could be manipulated to fuel negative campaigns.

"The consequence is that she constantly needs to be careful to what she wears, how she holds herself, regardless of her activities in everyday routine," she told the court.

Accused Individuals and Charges

Ten individuals, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for digital abuse. Some had a small social media following, while several more were better known.

Each one is accused of posting harmful statements about Brigitte Macron's identity. For some, this included comparing the age gap with her husband to inappropriate terms.

Upon being found guilty, they may be sentenced to as much as 24 months in incarceration.

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, a family member from Brigitte Macron's initial union, stated how the baseless rumors have caused a "worsening of her health" and a "deterioration of her daily happiness".

She said, "Hardly a day goes by when a person fails to mention the issue to her."

Auzière emphasized the repercussions on her relatives, for example the kids learning about malicious statements like "Your grandmother is deceptive" or "Your grandmother is your grandfather".

"She has no idea what to do about it," Auzière remarked. "She holds no office, she didn't pursue public attention, and she is permanently subjected to these assaults."

Legal Battle Background

The Paris trial is the latest phase in a broader legal battle targeting the false claim that the first lady is supposedly transgender.

They have also filed a case in America over false statements targeting a conservative podcaster who amplified the allegation.

The legal filing clarifies that the allegation is completely false and points out that the name mentioned is in fact Brigitte Macron's brother.

Defendants' Responses

In court, some of the accused denied the charges.

• One defendant, now a deputy mayor, asserted he "had no purpose to inflict damage" and described his social media content as humorous.
• Another defendant claimed that his posts were intended as "humor" and voiced worry that the trial could undermine "free speech".
• Another individual explained he posted information because he felt it was a worldwide topic with "consequences for France".

Personal History

The inaccurate claim regarding Brigitte Macron's gender circulated to some extent because their union has frequently been a topic of comment in digital spaces.

She, who is two decades older than her husband, first met him when serving as a educator at the institution he attended.

Their bond grew through the school's theatre programme, and they married in 2007, after Brigitte Macron's divorce.

Auzière finished her account by saying that the baseless rumors have created a "whirlwind that does not cease" for her mother.