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Brigitte Macron's daughter, her daughter, testified to a judicial body in Paris that inaccurate assertions online—among them the baseless theory that the French first lady had a male birth identity—have severely damaged her mother's quality of life.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, was called as a witness in the legal proceedings of ten people accused of internet-based abuse targeting the first lady.

Consequences on Everyday Activities

She testified that Brigitte Macron now worries constantly about how she looks, such as her fashion choices to how she stands, due to the apprehension that any image might be manipulated to fuel negative campaigns.

"The consequence is that she systematically must be cautious to her clothing, her posture, no matter what her actions in day-to-day existence," she informed the judges.

Defendants and Accusations

Eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, are facing charges for online harassment. Some had a small social media following, while others were better known.

Each one is charged with posting harmful statements about Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality. In certain cases, this included linking the disparity in years with the French president to hurtful comparisons.

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

Family Impact

She, a family member from her mother's previous marriage, explained how the baseless rumors have led to a "worsening of her health" and a "deterioration of her quality of life".

She explained, "Scarcely a day goes by when an individual does not talk this to her."

She highlighted the effects on the family, for example her grandchildren learning about false assertions like "Your grandmother is lying" or "She is actually a man".

"She has no idea what to do about it," Auzière testified. "She holds no office, she has not sought public attention, and she is constantly facing these assaults."

Judicial Proceedings History

The legal proceedings is part of an ongoing effort in a extended court case targeting the inaccurate allegation that Brigitte Macron was male.

The Macrons have also filed a US lawsuit over false statements targeting a media personality who promoted the theory.

The lawsuit states that the claim is totally unfounded and points out that the name mentioned is really her older brother.

Defendants' Responses

During the trial, a few individuals denied the accusations.

• A retired business owner, holding a public position, claimed he "did not mean to inflict damage" and described his online statements as humorous.
• A fiction writer stated that his posts were intended as "irony" and expressed concern that the legal action could endanger "the right to speak freely".
• A third defendant testified he posted posts as he believed it was a global issue with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The inaccurate claim about Brigitte Macron's gender circulated to some extent because the Macrons' relationship has long been a subject of discussion in digital spaces.

Brigitte Macron, who is significantly older than Emmanuel Macron, originally knew Emmanuel Macron when she was a educator at his secondary school.

The connection between them developed through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in 2007, subsequent to her divorce.

Auzière finished her account by saying that the inaccurate allegations have produced a "storm that continues endlessly" for her mother.