🔗 Share this article

The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a judicial body in Paris that false claims online—including the baseless theory that the French first lady was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's quality of life.

Auzière, a attorney, was called as a testifier in the trial of a group of defendants accused of internet-based abuse targeting the first lady.

Impact on Everyday Activities

She explained that the first lady now feels perpetual anxiety about her demeanor, including her fashion choices to how she stands, as a result of the fear that each snapshot might be manipulated to support hateful attacks.

"The consequence is that she systematically needs to be careful to what she wears, her posture, regardless of her activities in everyday routine," she testified.

Accused Individuals and Accusations

Ten individuals, between 41 and 60 years old, are on trial for internet-based bullying. Several had modest digital reach, while the rest were more visible.

All is alleged to have making malicious comments about the first lady's personal life. For some, this involved equating her age difference with the French president to hurtful comparisons.

Upon being found guilty, they may be sentenced to up to two years in jail.

Effect on Relatives

She, one of three children from her mother's initial union, stated how the inaccurate allegations have led to a "deterioration of her health" and a "deterioration of her overall existence".

She testified, "Hardly a day passes when an individual fails to mention these claims to her."

Auzière emphasized the repercussions on her relatives, such as the younger generation learning about malicious statements like "She is not truthful" or "Your grandmother is actually a man".

"She is unsure how to stop it," she remarked. "She holds no office, she has not sought public attention, and she is continually facing these attacks."

Judicial Proceedings History

The legal proceedings is the latest phase in a wider judicial fight addressing the false claim that Brigitte Macron is supposedly transgender.

The couple have initiated a legal action in the United States for defamation against a political commentator who promoted the allegation.

The legal filing states that the accusation is totally unfounded and points out that the name mentioned is actually Brigitte Macron's brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

During the trial, a few individuals rejected the allegations.

• An individual, serving as a local official, claimed he "had no purpose to inflict damage" and referred to his social media content as ironic.
• A fiction writer claimed that his social media shares were presented as "irony" and voiced worry that the case could threaten "freedom of expression".
• An art gallery owner testified he posted information because he felt it was a worldwide topic with "implications for the country".

Relationship Background

The inaccurate claim about Brigitte Macron's gender gained traction to some extent because their marriage has often been a topic of comment in digital spaces.

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

Their relationship developed through the school's theatre programme, and they entered into marriage in that year, after Brigitte Macron's separation.

She concluded her testimony by stating that the baseless rumors have caused a "chaos that continues endlessly" for Brigitte Macron.