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The French first lady's daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a judicial body in Paris that misleading allegations spread through social media—such as the unfounded rumor that the French first lady had a male birth identity—have significantly harmed her mother's quality of life.

Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, was called as a witness in the legal proceedings of ten people facing charges for online harassment against the first lady.

Consequences on Everyday Activities

She testified that her mother now feels perpetual anxiety about her demeanor, including her fashion choices to how she stands, because of the concern that any image might be manipulated to fuel malicious comments.

"The outcome is that she systematically needs to be careful to her outfits, how she holds herself, no matter what her activities in everyday routine," Auzière testified.

Defendants and Accusations

Eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, are facing charges for internet-based bullying. Several had limited online influence, while the rest were more prominent.

All is charged with posting harmful statements about Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality. For some, this included comparing her age difference with her husband to offensive labels.

If convicted, they could receive up to two years in incarceration.

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's initial union, described how the baseless rumors have resulted in a "worsening of her physical state" and a "worsening of her quality of life".

She said, "Not a day goes by when someone avoids discussing these claims to her."

She pointed out the effects on her relatives, for example her grandchildren learning about false assertions like "Your grandmother is lying" or "Your grandmother is your grandfather".

"She is unsure what to do about it," she remarked. "She didn't run for election, she has not sought any of this, and she is constantly facing these attacks."

Legal Battle History

The Paris trial is the latest phase in a broader legal battle targeting the false claim that she is supposedly male.

The couple have pursued a legal action in the United States alleging slander targeting a conservative podcaster who spread the allegation.

The lawsuit states that the allegation is completely false and notes that the person cited is in fact her older brother.

Defendants' Responses

In court, a few individuals denied the accusations.

• A retired business owner, serving as a local official, claimed he "had no purpose to inflict damage" and described his social media content as satirical.
• A well-known publicist claimed that his posts were presented as "irony" and expressed concern that the case could endanger "freedom of expression".
• A third defendant explained he shared content since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "impact on the nation".

Personal History

The inaccurate claim about the first lady's sex spread to some extent because their marriage has often been a topic of comment on the internet.

The first lady, being two decades older than her husband, first met him when she was a instructor at his school.

The connection between them evolved through drama activities, and they married in that year, subsequent to her divorce.

Auzière finished her account by saying that the false claims have created a "chaos that never stops" for Brigitte Macron.