🔗 Share this article False Assertions on the Internet Negatively Impacted Brigitte Macron's Well-being, Child Testifies to Court Brigitte Macron's child, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a tribunal in Paris that false claims spread through social media—including the baseless theory that the French first lady had a male birth identity—have severely damaged her mother's daily existence. She, a 41-year-old lawyer, served as a testifier in the legal proceedings of a group of defendants allegedly involved in online harassment against Brigitte Macron. Effects on Personal Routine Auzière testified that the first lady now is always concerned about how she looks, from the clothes she wears to her posture, because of the concern that every photograph could be manipulated to support negative campaigns. "The consequence is that she always must be cautious to her outfits, how she holds herself, irrespective of her actions in day-to-day existence," she informed the judges. Accused Individuals and Allegations The defendants, between 41 and 60 years old, are on trial for online harassment. Some had a small social media following, while several more were better known. Each one is charged with posting harmful statements about the first lady's personal life. Among them, this extended to linking the age gap with the French president to offensive labels. If convicted, they may be sentenced to up to two years in incarceration. Consequences for Loved Ones Auzière, a family member from her mother's initial union, described how the false claims have resulted in a "decline of her well-being" and a "decline of her overall existence". She testified, "Hardly a day passes when someone fails to mention this to her." Auzière emphasized the impact on her relatives, such as her grandchildren being exposed to false assertions like "Your grandmother is lying" or "She is your grandfather". "She does not know how to stop it," she stated. "She's not elected, she didn't pursue anything, and she is continually facing these assaults." Court Case History The Paris trial is the latest phase in a broader legal battle against the false claim that Brigitte Macron is supposedly a man. The couple have pursued a legal action in the United States over false statements against a conservative podcaster who amplified the allegation. The legal filing states that the claim is completely false and notes that the name mentioned is actually Brigitte Macron's sibling. Accused Individuals' Statements During the trial, several defendants rejected the charges. One defendant, holding a public position, claimed he "had no purpose to cause harm" and referred to his online statements as ironic. A well-known publicist argued that his posts were intended as "irony" and expressed concern that the legal action could endanger "freedom of expression". 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 regarding Brigitte Macron's sex circulated partly because the Macrons' relationship has frequently been a point of interest in digital spaces. Brigitte Macron, being two decades older than the president, first met the future president when she was a instructor at the institution he attended. Their relationship developed through drama activities, and they entered into marriage in the following year, after Brigitte Macron's marriage dissolution. She concluded her testimony by expressing that the inaccurate allegations have produced a "whirlwind that continues endlessly" for the first lady.