🔗 Share this article

The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a Paris court that misleading allegations spread through social media—including the unfounded rumor that Brigitte Macron is transgender—have severely damaged her mother's quality of life.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a witness in the legal proceedings of 10 individuals accused of digital bullying targeting her mother.

Effects on Personal Routine

Auzière explained that Brigitte Macron now feels perpetual anxiety about how she looks, including her fashion choices to her posture, due to the fear that each snapshot could be manipulated to advance hateful attacks.

"The result is that she constantly must be cautious to her clothing, her posture, irrespective of her activities in day-to-day existence," she informed the judges.

Defendants and Allegations

Eight men and two women, in that age range, are in court for internet-based bullying. Several had modest digital reach, while the rest were more prominent.

Each one is alleged to have spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's personal life. Among them, this included equating the disparity in years with Emmanuel Macron to hurtful comparisons.

If found responsible, they face up to two years in prison.

Consequences for Loved Ones

Auzière, a family member from her mother's first marriage, explained how the inaccurate allegations have caused a "worsening of her physical state" and a "worsening of her quality of life".

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

She pointed out the repercussions on her relatives, including her grandchildren being exposed to false assertions like "Brigitte is deceptive" or "She is actually a man".

"She does not know how to end it," she stated. "She didn't run for election, she has not sought anything, and she is permanently experiencing these attacks."

Judicial Proceedings Context

The legal proceedings is part of an ongoing effort in a wider judicial fight targeting the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron is supposedly transgender.

The Macrons have initiated a case in America for defamation against a media personality who promoted the allegation.

The legal filing clarifies that the allegation is completely false and points out that the name mentioned is actually Brigitte Macron's older brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

In court, a few individuals disputed the accusations.

• One defendant, holding a public position, claimed he "had no purpose to cause harm" and described his posts as ironic.
• Another defendant argued that his social media shares were presented as "humor" and voiced worry that the case could endanger "free speech".
• An art gallery owner testified he shared content as he believed it was a global issue with "impact on the nation".

Relationship Background

The inaccurate claim about Brigitte Macron's identity spread to some extent because their union has long been a point of interest in digital spaces.

The first lady, being significantly older than the president, first met him when serving as a educator at his school.

Their relationship evolved through drama activities, and they married in 2007, after her divorce.

She finished her statement by saying that the inaccurate allegations have produced a "whirlwind that continues endlessly" for the first lady.