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Brigitte Macron's daughter, her daughter, has told a tribunal in Paris that false claims circulating on the internet—among them the unfounded rumor that she was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's daily existence.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, was called as a testifier in the legal proceedings of ten people accused of online harassment against her mother.

Consequences on Everyday Activities

She explained that the first lady now feels perpetual anxiety about her appearance, such as her fashion choices to her posture, as a result of the concern that any image may be distorted to fuel hateful attacks.

"The consequence is that she systematically must be cautious to her outfits, how she holds herself, irrespective of her activities in everyday routine," Auzière told the court.

Those on Trial and Allegations

The defendants, between 41 and 60 years old, are in court for online harassment. Several had a small social media following, while several more were more prominent.

Every defendant is charged with spreading defamatory content about the first lady's personal life. In certain cases, this extended to comparing the age gap with the French president to inappropriate terms.

If found responsible, they could receive up to two years in prison.

Consequences for Loved Ones

She, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's initial union, described how the false claims have caused a "worsening of her physical state" and a "deterioration of her daily happiness".

She testified, "Hardly a day goes by when someone avoids discussing this to her."

She highlighted the impact on her relatives, for example her grandchildren hearing malicious statements like "Brigitte is lying" or "She is your grandfather".

"She has no idea how to stop it," she remarked. "She didn't run for election, she didn't pursue anything, and she is constantly experiencing these assaults."

Judicial Proceedings Context

The Paris trial represents a recent development in a broader legal battle against the false claim that the first lady is supposedly a man.

The Macrons have initiated a US lawsuit alleging slander targeting a political commentator who spread the allegation.

The legal filing asserts that the claim is completely false and identifies that the individual referenced is in fact Brigitte Macron's sibling.

Defendants' Responses

In court, several defendants rejected the accusations.

• One defendant, now a deputy mayor, stated he "had no purpose to inflict damage" and referred to his online statements as satirical.
• Another defendant stated that his online activity were meant to be "satire" and expressed concern that the case could threaten "free speech".
• A third defendant said he disseminated information as he believed it was an international matter with "impact on the nation".

Past Context

The inaccurate claim regarding the first lady's gender gained traction to some extent because the Macrons' relationship has frequently been a point of interest in digital spaces.

She, who is 24 years older than the president, initially encountered Emmanuel Macron when serving as a educator at the institution he attended.

Their relationship evolved through drama activities, and they wed in the following year, following Brigitte Macron's separation.

She wrapped up her testimony by expressing that the baseless rumors have produced a "storm that never stops" for the first lady.