🔗 Share this article False Assertions Online Harmed Brigitte Macron's Daily Life, Child Tells the Tribunal The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a tribunal in Paris that inaccurate assertions circulating on the internet—among them the unfounded rumor that she had a male birth identity—have significantly harmed her mother's quality of life. She, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a testifier in the trial of ten people allegedly involved in internet-based abuse targeting Brigitte Macron. Effects on Everyday Activities She explained that the first lady now feels perpetual anxiety about her appearance, from her attire to the way she carries herself, due to the fear that any image could be manipulated to fuel malicious comments. "The consequence is that she constantly must be cautious to what she wears, how she holds herself, no matter what she's doing in day-to-day existence," she told the court. Accused Individuals and Accusations Eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for internet-based bullying. A few had limited online influence, while the rest were better known. All is accused of spreading defamatory content about the first lady's personal life. In certain cases, this included linking the age gap with her husband to inappropriate terms. Upon being found guilty, they could receive a maximum of two years in jail. Consequences for Loved Ones She, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's initial union, stated how the false claims have caused a "decline of her health" and a "worsening of her quality of life". She explained, "Hardly a day passes when a person fails to mention these claims to her." She pointed out the effects on the family, for example the kids learning about false assertions like "Your grandmother is not truthful" or "Your grandmother is your grandfather". "She does not know how to end it," Auzière testified. "She holds no office, she didn't pursue public attention, and she is permanently experiencing these assaults." Court Case History The Paris trial is the latest phase in a wider judicial fight targeting the inaccurate allegation that she is supposedly male. The couple have initiated a case in America for defamation against a conservative podcaster who amplified the claim. The legal filing asserts that the accusation is entirely inaccurate and notes that the name mentioned is actually her brother. Accused Individuals' Statements In court, a few individuals rejected the charges. A retired business owner, serving as a local official, claimed he "had no purpose to hurt anyone" and referred to his social media content as humorous. A fiction writer argued that his online activity were presented as "humor" and expressed concern that the case could undermine "free speech". A third defendant testified he disseminated content since he thought it was an international matter with "implications for the country". Relationship Background The inaccurate claim regarding the first lady's sex spread in part because the Macrons' relationship has often been a subject of discussion in digital spaces. She, aged two decades older than Emmanuel Macron, initially encountered him when she was a instructor at his school. Their relationship evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in the following year, subsequent to her separation. She wrapped up her statement by stating that the baseless rumors have caused a "whirlwind that continues endlessly" for her mother.