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Brigitte Macron's child, Tiphaine Auzière, informed a judicial body in Paris that misleading allegations online—including the groundless claim that the French first lady had a male birth identity—have negatively impacted her mother's quality of life.

Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, was called as a witness in the court case of 10 individuals facing charges for online harassment directed at the first lady.

Consequences on Personal Routine

She explained that her mother now worries constantly about her appearance, such as the clothes she wears to the way she carries herself, because of the apprehension that every photograph may be misused to support hateful attacks.

"The outcome is that she systematically needs to be careful to what she wears, her body language, irrespective of she's doing in her daily life," she testified.

Accused Individuals and Allegations

The defendants, aged 41 to 60, are in court for digital abuse. A few had limited online influence, while others were more prominent.

Every defendant is accused of making malicious comments about Brigitte Macron's personal life. For some, this extended to comparing her age difference with Emmanuel Macron to offensive labels.

Upon being found guilty, they may be sentenced to up to two years in jail.

Consequences for Loved Ones

She, one of three children from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, described how the false claims have caused a "worsening of her physical state" and a "deterioration of her quality of life".

She explained, "Hardly a day goes by when an individual fails to mention these claims to her."

She emphasized the repercussions on her relatives, such as the younger generation being exposed to malicious statements like "Your grandmother is not truthful" or "She is actually a man".

"She is unsure what to do about it," Auzière remarked. "She holds no office, she never asked for anything, and she is permanently facing these attacks."

Legal Battle Context

This case represents a recent development in a broader legal battle against the false claim that she is supposedly a man.

The couple have also filed a case in America alleging slander against a political commentator who amplified the allegation.

The case clarifies that the claim is completely false and identifies that the name mentioned is really her brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

Throughout the proceedings, some of the accused disputed the accusations.

• A retired business owner, serving as a local official, asserted he "did not mean to inflict damage" and described his social media content as satirical.
• Another defendant argued that his social media shares were meant to be "irony" and expressed concern that the legal action could undermine "freedom of expression".
• A third defendant testified he posted posts since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "implications for the country".

Past Context

The baseless rumor regarding the first lady's gender spread partly because their marriage has frequently been a point of interest online.

Brigitte Macron, being significantly older than Emmanuel Macron, first met the future president when serving as a teacher at his school.

Their relationship evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they married in 2007, following Brigitte Macron's marriage dissolution.

Auzière concluded her testimony by stating that the false claims have created a "chaos that continues endlessly" for the first lady.