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Brigitte Macron's child, her daughter, testified to a judicial body in Paris that inaccurate assertions online—among them the baseless theory that the French first lady is transgender—have severely damaged her mother's personal well-being.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, served as a witness in the trial of a group of defendants facing charges for online harassment directed at the first lady.

Consequences on Personal Routine

She testified that the first lady now feels perpetual anxiety about her appearance, from her fashion choices to her posture, due to the fear that any image could be distorted to support hateful attacks.

"The outcome is that she systematically has to pay attention to her outfits, how she holds herself, regardless of her activities in day-to-day existence," Auzière told the court.

Defendants and Accusations

Eight men and two women, between 41 and 60 years old, are in court for online harassment. Several had a small social media following, while several more were better known.

All is charged with making malicious comments about Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality. In certain cases, this extended to equating the disparity in years with Emmanuel Macron to offensive labels.

If found responsible, they could receive as much as 24 months in jail.

Consequences for Loved Ones

Auzière, a daughter from her mother's first marriage, stated how the inaccurate allegations have caused a "deterioration of her health" and a "decline of her overall existence".

She explained, "Not a day goes by when someone avoids discussing the issue to her."

Auzière pointed out the repercussions on loved ones, such as the younger generation hearing false assertions like "Brigitte is lying" or "She was born male".

"She does not know what to do about it," she testified. "She didn't run for election, she has not sought any of this, and she is constantly subjected to these assaults."

Court Case Background

The legal proceedings is the latest phase in a extended court case against the false claim that the first lady is a man.

The couple have also filed a case in America alleging slander against a conservative podcaster who spread the theory.

The legal filing clarifies that the allegation is totally unfounded and points out that the name mentioned is really her older brother.

Defendants' Responses

In court, a few individuals denied the accusations.

• An individual, serving as a local official, asserted he "had no purpose to hurt anyone" and referred to his posts as ironic.
• Another defendant argued that his social media shares were meant to be "satire" and voiced worry that the legal action could endanger "free speech".
• A third defendant said he shared content since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The baseless rumor concerning the first lady's gender spread in part because the Macrons' relationship has often been a subject of discussion in digital spaces.

The first lady, who is two decades older than the president, originally knew Emmanuel Macron when she was a instructor at the institution he attended.

The connection between them evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they married in that year, subsequent to her separation.

Auzière concluded her statement by expressing that the false claims have caused a "whirlwind that never stops" for her mother.