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The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a judicial body in Paris that inaccurate assertions circulating on the internet—such as the groundless claim that she is transgender—have negatively impacted her mother's quality of life.

Auzière, a attorney, served as a testifier in the legal proceedings of ten people accused of online harassment against the first lady.

Consequences on Personal Routine

She testified that her mother now is always concerned about how she looks, from her fashion choices to her posture, as a result of the apprehension that every photograph might be distorted to support hateful attacks.

"The consequence is that she systematically needs to be careful to her clothing, how she holds herself, no matter what her actions in everyday routine," Auzière informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Charges

The defendants, between 41 and 60 years old, are in court for digital abuse. A few had a small social media following, while several more were more visible.

All is charged with posting harmful statements about Brigitte Macron's identity. In certain cases, this included linking the age gap with Emmanuel Macron to offensive labels.

If found responsible, they face a maximum of two years in prison.

Family Impact

Auzière, a family member from Brigitte Macron's previous marriage, explained how the baseless rumors have led to a "deterioration of her well-being" and a "worsening of her daily happiness".

She said, "Scarcely a day goes by when someone fails to mention these claims to her."

She highlighted the effects on loved ones, such as the kids being exposed to false assertions like "Brigitte is deceptive" or "She was born male".

"She does not know what to do about it," she remarked. "She didn't run for election, she has not sought public attention, and she is constantly subjected to these attacks."

Judicial Proceedings Background

The Paris trial is part of an ongoing effort in a wider judicial fight addressing the false claim that the first lady was male.

The Macrons have initiated a case in America alleging slander targeting a political commentator who promoted the allegation.

The legal filing states that the claim is totally unfounded and points out that the name mentioned is really her sibling.

Defendants' Responses

In court, some of the accused rejected the accusations.

• A retired business owner, holding a public position, stated he "never intended to inflict damage" and referred to his online statements as humorous.
• A fiction writer claimed that his online activity were meant to be "humor" and highlighted apprehension that the case could endanger "the right to speak freely".
• Another individual said he shared information as he believed it was a global issue with "consequences for France".

Past Context

The false theory regarding Brigitte Macron's gender gained traction to some extent because the Macrons' relationship has often been a point of interest on the internet.

Brigitte Macron, who is two decades older than the president, first met the future president when working as a teacher at his school.

The connection between them developed through the school's theatre programme, and they entered into marriage in the following year, following her marriage dissolution.

She concluded her statement by stating that the false claims have created a "storm that continues endlessly" for the first lady.