🔗 Share this article

Brigitte Macron's child, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a judicial body in Paris that misleading allegations online—including the unfounded rumor that she had a male birth identity—have negatively impacted her mother's quality of life.

Auzière, a attorney, was called as a testifier in the court case of a group of defendants facing charges for online harassment directed at her mother.

Impact on Daily Life

Auzière stated that the first lady now worries constantly about how she looks, such as her attire to how she stands, because of the concern that each snapshot could be manipulated to fuel hateful attacks.

"The result is that she constantly needs to be careful to her clothing, her body language, regardless of her actions in day-to-day existence," Auzière testified.

Those on Trial and Accusations

Ten individuals, between 41 and 60 years old, are in court for digital abuse. Some had modest digital reach, while several more were better known.

All is alleged to have spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality. In certain cases, this extended to equating the age gap with the French president to offensive labels.

Upon being found guilty, they face as much as 24 months in prison.

Effect on Relatives

She, a family member from her mother's previous marriage, explained how the inaccurate allegations have caused a "decline of her health" and a "deterioration of her daily happiness".

She explained, "Not a day goes by when an individual fails to mention these claims to her."

She pointed out the effects on her relatives, such as the kids learning about malicious statements like "She is lying" or "Your grandmother is your grandfather".

"She has no idea how to end it," Auzière testified. "She's not elected, she didn't pursue anything, and she is permanently facing these assaults."

Court Case Background

The legal proceedings is part of an ongoing effort in a extended court case targeting the false claim that the first lady was a man.

They have pursued a case in America for defamation targeting a conservative podcaster who promoted the claim.

The legal filing states that the allegation is completely false and identifies that the person cited is in fact her older brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

In court, several defendants denied the allegations.

• A retired business owner, now a deputy mayor, claimed he "never intended to hurt anyone" and referred to his social media content as ironic.
• Another defendant claimed that his posts were presented as "satire" and expressed concern that the trial could undermine "free speech".
• A third defendant testified he shared content since he thought it was an international matter with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The inaccurate claim about the first lady's sex spread in part because their marriage has frequently been a topic of comment in digital spaces.

The first lady, who is two decades older than her husband, initially encountered Emmanuel Macron when serving as a instructor at the institution he attended.

Their bond evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in the following year, following her separation.

She finished her statement by saying that the false claims have caused a "chaos that does not cease" for Brigitte Macron.