Misleading Claims on the Internet Negatively Impacted Brigitte Macron's Daily Life, Daughter Informs Judges

Brigitte Macron's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a judicial body in Paris that false claims spread through social media—among them the baseless theory that she was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's personal well-being.

She, a legal professional, appeared as a testifier in the court case of ten people facing charges for digital bullying against the first lady.

Impact on Personal Routine

She testified that the first lady now feels perpetual anxiety about her appearance, such as her attire to how she stands, as a result of the concern that each snapshot may be manipulated to advance negative campaigns.

"The outcome is that she systematically has to pay attention to her clothing, her posture, no matter what her actions in everyday routine," Auzière testified.

Defendants and Accusations

The defendants, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for digital abuse. A few had a small social media following, while others were better known.

All is accused of posting harmful statements about the first lady's personal life. For some, this extended to linking her age difference with Emmanuel Macron to hurtful comparisons.

If convicted, they face a maximum of two years in jail.

Family Impact

She, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's initial union, explained how the inaccurate allegations have resulted in a "decline of her health" and a "decline of her daily happiness".

She explained, "Scarcely a day goes by when someone avoids discussing this to her."

Auzière emphasized the impact on her relatives, including the younger generation learning about malicious statements like "Brigitte is deceptive" or "Your grandmother is your grandfather".

"She has no idea how to stop it," Auzière remarked. "She holds no office, she has not sought anything, and she is continually facing these assaults."

Judicial Proceedings History

The legal proceedings represents a recent development in a extended court case addressing the false claim that she is supposedly male.

They have also filed a US lawsuit over false statements involving a political commentator who promoted the allegation.

The case states that the accusation is entirely inaccurate and points out that the individual referenced is really Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Accused Individuals' Statements

In court, a few individuals rejected the accusations.

• One defendant, holding a public position, asserted he "did not mean to hurt anyone" and referred to his social media content as ironic.
• A fiction writer argued that his social media shares were presented as "satire" and highlighted apprehension that the case could undermine "freedom of expression".
• An art gallery owner testified he shared posts as he believed it was a worldwide topic with "impact on the nation".

Personal History

The inaccurate claim regarding the first lady's gender gained traction partly because their marriage has long been a subject of discussion on the internet.

Brigitte Macron, aged two decades older than the president, initially encountered him when serving as a instructor at his school.

Their bond evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in 2007, after her separation.

She wrapped up her testimony by saying that the false claims have caused a "chaos that continues endlessly" for the first lady.