🔗 Share this article

The French first lady's child, her daughter, informed a tribunal in Paris that inaccurate assertions circulating on the internet—including the baseless theory that the French first lady was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's daily existence.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a witness in the trial of 10 individuals allegedly involved in online harassment targeting her mother.

Impact on Daily Life

Auzière explained that Brigitte Macron now feels perpetual anxiety about her appearance, from the clothes she wears to the way she carries herself, due to the fear that every photograph might be distorted to advance negative campaigns.

"The result is that she constantly has to pay attention to her outfits, her posture, regardless of her actions in day-to-day existence," she told the court.

Those on Trial and Accusations

The defendants, between 41 and 60 years old, are in court for internet-based bullying. Several had a small social media following, while others were more visible.

All is alleged to have making malicious comments about the first lady's personal life. In certain cases, this extended to equating her age difference with Emmanuel Macron to hurtful comparisons.

If convicted, they may be sentenced to up to two years in jail.

Effect on Relatives

She, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, stated how the false claims have resulted in a "deterioration of her health" and a "worsening of her daily happiness".

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

She highlighted the impact on her relatives, such as the younger generation being exposed to hurtful comments like "Your grandmother is lying" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She has no idea what to do about it," Auzière testified. "She holds no office, she never asked for any of this, and she is constantly facing these assaults."

Court Case Background

This case represents a recent development in a wider judicial fight against the baseless theory that the first lady is male.

The couple have pursued a US lawsuit over false statements targeting a conservative podcaster who promoted the allegation.

The legal filing clarifies that the allegation is completely false and notes that the name mentioned is actually her sibling.

Trial Testimonies

Throughout the proceedings, some of the accused denied the charges.

• A retired business owner, serving as a local official, asserted he "never intended to hurt anyone" and referred to his posts as ironic.
• A fiction writer claimed that his social media shares were intended as "irony" and voiced worry that the case could undermine "free speech".
• A third defendant said he shared content because he felt it was an international matter with "consequences for France".

Relationship Background

The false theory about Brigitte Macron's identity circulated in part because the Macrons' relationship has frequently been a topic of comment on the internet.

She, aged 24 years older than her husband, first met the future president when working as a teacher at the institution he attended.

The connection between them developed through theatrical projects, and they wed in the following year, following her marriage dissolution.

She finished her statement by saying that the baseless rumors have created a "storm that never stops" for Brigitte Macron.