Inaccurate Claims on the Internet Damaged Brigitte Macron's Well-being, Child Informs Judges

Brigitte Macron's daughter, her daughter, informed a judicial body in Paris that false claims spread through social media—including the groundless claim that Brigitte Macron is transgender—have significantly harmed her mother's daily existence.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a witness in the court case of 10 individuals facing charges for internet-based abuse directed at her mother.

Impact on Daily Life

Auzière testified that Brigitte Macron now worries constantly about her demeanor, from her attire to the way she carries herself, because of the concern that each snapshot could be misused to support malicious comments.

"The consequence is that she always has to pay attention to her clothing, her posture, no matter what she's doing in day-to-day existence," Auzière testified.

Defendants and Allegations

Eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, are facing charges for internet-based bullying. A few had limited online influence, while several more were better known.

All is alleged to have posting harmful statements about the first lady's gender and sexuality. For some, this extended to equating the disparity in years with her husband to inappropriate terms.

Upon being found guilty, they may be sentenced to as much as 24 months in incarceration.

Consequences for Loved Ones

Auzière, a family member from Brigitte Macron's initial union, stated how the false claims have led to a "deterioration of her health" and a "decline of her daily happiness".

She testified, "Not a day goes by when an individual fails to mention the issue to her."

She highlighted the repercussions on the family, such as her grandchildren learning about hurtful comments like "Your grandmother is deceptive" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She does not know how to stop it," Auzière stated. "She didn't run for election, she didn't pursue any of this, and she is permanently facing these attacks."

Legal Battle History

The legal proceedings represents a recent development in a broader legal battle addressing the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron was a man.

The couple have also filed a case in America over false statements involving a conservative podcaster who amplified the theory.

The legal filing states that the accusation is entirely inaccurate and identifies that the person cited is really her brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

In court, several defendants rejected the charges.

• An individual, holding a public position, claimed he "did not mean to hurt anyone" and described his social media content as humorous.
• A fiction writer stated that his social media shares were intended as "humor" and expressed concern that the legal action could threaten "the right to speak freely".
• Another individual testified he disseminated content because he felt it was a worldwide topic with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The baseless rumor concerning the first lady's gender circulated to some extent because the Macrons' relationship has frequently been a subject of discussion online.

She, aged significantly older than the president, initially encountered the future president when working as a teacher at the institution he attended.

Their bond evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in that year, following Brigitte Macron's marriage dissolution.

Auzière wrapped up her statement by saying that the false claims have caused a "chaos that continues endlessly" for Brigitte Macron.