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The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a judicial body in Paris that false claims online—such as the groundless claim that the French first lady is transgender—have negatively impacted her mother's personal well-being.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, served as a testifier in the trial of ten people facing charges for digital bullying against Brigitte Macron.

Impact on Personal Routine

She stated that her mother now worries constantly about her appearance, such as her fashion choices to how she stands, due to the concern that every photograph might be distorted to advance malicious comments.

"The consequence is that she systematically has to pay attention to her outfits, her posture, irrespective of she's doing in her daily life," Auzière testified.

Those on Trial and Allegations

Eight men and two women, between 41 and 60 years old, are in court for digital abuse. Some had modest digital reach, while the rest were more prominent.

Every defendant is accused of spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's identity. For some, this extended to comparing her age difference with Emmanuel Macron to offensive labels.

If convicted, they may be sentenced to a maximum of two years in incarceration.

Consequences for Loved Ones

Auzière, a daughter from her mother's first marriage, explained how the baseless rumors have caused a "worsening of her well-being" and a "worsening of her overall existence".

She explained, "Not a day passes when someone fails to mention this to her."

She pointed out the effects on loved ones, such as her grandchildren learning about malicious statements like "She is deceptive" or "She is actually a man".

"She has no idea how to stop it," Auzière remarked. "She holds no office, she didn't pursue public attention, and she is permanently facing these attacks."

Court Case Background

The legal proceedings is part of an ongoing effort in a wider judicial fight targeting the false claim that the first lady was a man.

They have pursued a legal action in the United States over false statements targeting a political commentator who promoted the theory.

The legal filing states that the accusation is totally unfounded and identifies that the person cited is in fact her brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

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

• One defendant, now a deputy mayor, stated he "had no purpose to hurt anyone" and described his online statements as satirical.
• A fiction writer argued that his social media shares were meant to be "irony" and highlighted apprehension that the case could endanger "free speech".
• An art gallery owner explained he disseminated information because he felt it was a global issue with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The inaccurate claim about Brigitte Macron's sex spread partly because the Macrons' relationship has frequently been a point of interest online.

The first lady, aged significantly older than Emmanuel Macron, first met Emmanuel Macron when she was a educator at the institution he attended.

Their relationship grew through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in the following year, after her separation.

She finished her account by expressing that the inaccurate allegations have produced a "chaos that does not cease" for Brigitte Macron.