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The French first lady's daughter, her daughter, has told a Paris court that inaccurate assertions spread through social media—including the baseless theory that the French first lady had a male birth identity—have significantly harmed her mother's daily existence.

She, a attorney, appeared as a witness in the court case of a group of defendants facing charges for online harassment directed at Brigitte Macron.

Consequences on Personal Routine

Auzière stated that Brigitte Macron now is always concerned about her appearance, from her fashion choices to the way she carries herself, due to the fear that any image could be misused to advance malicious comments.

"The outcome is that she constantly has to pay attention to what she wears, her body language, irrespective of her actions in day-to-day existence," she informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Charges

Ten individuals, between 41 and 60 years old, are in court for online harassment. Some had limited online influence, while several more were better known.

All is charged with spreading defamatory content about the first lady's identity. Among them, this extended to linking her age difference with the French president to inappropriate terms.

If found responsible, they face up to two years in prison.

Family Impact

Auzière, one of three children from her mother's previous marriage, described how the baseless rumors have led to a "worsening of her well-being" and a "worsening of her daily happiness".

She testified, "Not a day passes when an individual fails to mention these claims to her."

She highlighted the effects on loved ones, for example the younger generation hearing malicious statements like "Brigitte is not truthful" or "She is your grandfather".

"She does not know what to do about it," she stated. "She holds no office, she didn't pursue any of this, and she is constantly experiencing these attacks."

Legal Battle Background

The legal proceedings is part of an ongoing effort in a broader legal battle against the false claim that she is a man.

They have initiated a case in America for defamation targeting a conservative podcaster who amplified the allegation.

The lawsuit clarifies that the allegation is completely false and notes that the person cited is really her sibling.

Trial Testimonies

Throughout the proceedings, several defendants denied the accusations.

• One defendant, holding a public position, claimed he "never intended to inflict damage" and described his online statements as ironic.
• A fiction writer claimed that his online activity were intended as "irony" and voiced worry that the legal action could undermine "free speech".
• A third defendant said he shared content since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "consequences for France".

Past Context

The false theory about the first lady's gender spread to some extent because their marriage has frequently been a topic of comment in digital spaces.

She, being significantly older than Emmanuel Macron, originally knew him when working as a teacher at the institution he attended.

Their relationship evolved through drama activities, and they wed in 2007, subsequent to her marriage dissolution.

Auzière concluded her account by saying that the false claims have produced a "whirlwind that never stops" for Brigitte Macron.