Misleading Assertions on Social Media Harmed Brigitte Macron's Daily Life, Child Tells Judges

The French first lady's daughter, her daughter, informed a judicial body in Paris that misleading allegations circulating on the internet—including the baseless theory that she is transgender—have significantly harmed her mother's daily existence.

She, a attorney, appeared as a witness in the court case of a group of defendants accused of online harassment against the first lady.

Effects on Everyday Activities

Auzière explained that her mother now worries constantly about how she looks, from her fashion choices to how she stands, as a result of the fear that each snapshot could be misused to advance malicious comments.

"The outcome is that she systematically has to pay attention to her outfits, her posture, irrespective of her actions in day-to-day existence," Auzière told the court.

Defendants and Charges

The defendants, in that age range, are facing charges for digital abuse. A few had modest digital reach, while the rest were more visible.

All is charged with making malicious comments about the first lady's gender and sexuality. Among them, this involved equating her age difference with the French president to offensive labels.

If found responsible, they could receive as much as 24 months in jail.

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, a daughter from her mother's first marriage, described how the false claims have caused a "deterioration of her well-being" and a "deterioration of her daily happiness".

She testified, "Scarcely a day goes by when someone does not talk these claims to her."

She emphasized the impact on loved ones, such as her grandchildren being exposed to false assertions like "Brigitte is not truthful" or "Your grandmother is actually a man".

"She does not know what to do about it," Auzière remarked. "She's not elected, she didn't pursue any of this, and she is continually facing these attacks."

Court Case History

The legal proceedings is the latest phase in a broader legal battle against the false claim that Brigitte Macron was male.

The couple have initiated a case in America for defamation involving a political commentator who promoted the allegation.

The legal filing clarifies that the claim is totally unfounded and points out that the individual referenced is really Brigitte Macron's brother.

Defendants' Responses

During the trial, a few individuals denied the allegations.

• One defendant, serving as a local official, claimed he "never intended to hurt anyone" and described his social media content as ironic.
• A fiction writer argued that his online activity were meant to be "satire" and highlighted apprehension that the trial could threaten "freedom of expression".
• An art gallery owner testified he posted content because he felt it was a global issue with "implications for the country".

Relationship Background

The false theory about Brigitte Macron's gender gained traction partly because their union has long been a point of interest on the internet.

Brigitte Macron, being two decades older than her husband, originally knew the future president when she was a educator at the institution he attended.

Their relationship developed through drama activities, and they entered into marriage in the following year, following Brigitte Macron's separation.

She concluded her statement by expressing that the inaccurate allegations have produced a "chaos that continues endlessly" for the first lady.