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Brigitte Macron's child, Tiphaine Auzière, informed a tribunal in Paris that misleading allegations circulating on the internet—such as the baseless theory that she was born a man—have negatively impacted her mother's personal well-being.

She, a legal professional, was called as a testifier in the court case of 10 individuals facing charges for internet-based abuse targeting the first lady.

Consequences on Daily Life

She explained that her mother now is always concerned about her appearance, such as her attire to the way she carries herself, because of the apprehension that every photograph may be distorted to fuel hateful attacks.

"The result is that she always needs to be careful to her outfits, how she holds herself, irrespective of her activities in her daily life," Auzière informed the judges.

Defendants and Charges

The defendants, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for online harassment. A few had modest digital reach, while the rest were more prominent.

All is accused of posting harmful statements about the first lady's identity. For some, this involved linking the age gap with her husband to hurtful comparisons.

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

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, one of three children from Brigitte Macron's previous marriage, described how the false claims have caused a "deterioration of her health" and a "worsening of her overall existence".

She testified, "Not a day passes when an individual avoids discussing these claims to her."

Auzière highlighted the effects on the family, such as the younger generation being exposed to false assertions like "Brigitte is not truthful" or "She is your grandfather".

"She is unsure how to stop it," she stated. "She didn't run for election, she didn't pursue any of this, and she is permanently facing these assaults."

Judicial Proceedings Context

The legal proceedings is part of an ongoing effort in a wider judicial fight targeting the inaccurate allegation that the first lady is a man.

They have pursued a legal action in the United States alleging slander involving a political commentator who promoted the allegation.

The legal filing asserts that the allegation is entirely inaccurate and points out that the individual referenced is really Brigitte Macron's brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

Throughout the proceedings, some of the accused denied the allegations.

• One defendant, holding a public position, asserted he "did not mean to cause harm" and described his online statements as satirical.
• A well-known publicist claimed that his social media shares were meant to be "irony" and expressed concern that the trial could threaten "the right to speak freely".
• A third defendant explained he posted content because he felt it was an international matter with "consequences for France".

Personal History

The baseless rumor about the first lady's gender spread in part because their marriage has frequently been a topic of comment on the internet.

The first lady, being 24 years older than her husband, initially encountered the future president when working as a teacher at the institution he attended.

The connection between them grew through drama activities, and they entered into marriage in 2007, subsequent to Brigitte Macron's separation.

She wrapped up her account by expressing that the baseless rumors have created a "storm that never stops" for her mother.