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Brigitte Macron's daughter, her daughter, has told a tribunal in Paris that false claims online—among them the unfounded rumor that Brigitte Macron is transgender—have severely damaged her mother's daily existence.

She, a attorney, was called as a testifier in the trial of a group of defendants facing charges for digital bullying against Brigitte Macron.

Effects on Everyday Activities

She testified that Brigitte Macron now worries constantly about her appearance, such as her fashion choices to the way she carries herself, due to the concern that any image might be manipulated to fuel negative campaigns.

"The result is that she constantly has to pay attention to her clothing, her body language, regardless of her activities in her daily life," she told the court.

Accused Individuals and Accusations

Eight men and two women, between 41 and 60 years old, are in court for online harassment. Some had modest digital reach, while the rest were more visible.

Each one is accused of making malicious comments about the first lady's personal life. In certain cases, this extended to comparing the age gap with her husband to inappropriate terms.

If found responsible, they could receive a maximum of two years in prison.

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, a family member from Brigitte Macron's previous marriage, described how the false claims have resulted in a "deterioration of her health" and a "decline of her daily happiness".

She explained, "Hardly a day goes by when someone fails to mention the issue to her."

She highlighted the repercussions on her relatives, including her grandchildren being exposed to false assertions like "Your grandmother is not truthful" or "She was born male".

"She has no idea how to stop it," Auzière remarked. "She holds no office, she didn't pursue any of this, and she is constantly experiencing these assaults."

Court Case Context

The legal proceedings represents a recent development in a wider judicial fight against the false claim that the first lady was transgender.

The couple have pursued a case in America over false statements targeting a conservative podcaster who promoted the claim.

The lawsuit states that the claim is completely false and points out that the individual referenced is actually her brother.

Trial Testimonies

Throughout the proceedings, a few individuals denied the allegations.

• One defendant, serving as a local official, claimed he "never intended to hurt anyone" and referred to his social media content as satirical.
• A fiction writer stated that his social media shares were meant to be "irony" and expressed concern that the case could undermine "the right to speak freely".
• A third defendant said he shared posts as he believed it was a global issue with "consequences for France".

Personal History

The inaccurate claim about the first lady's sex spread partly because their union has often been a subject of discussion online.

The first lady, being two decades older than Emmanuel Macron, originally knew Emmanuel Macron when serving as a teacher at his school.

Their bond evolved through drama activities, and they entered into marriage in 2007, subsequent to Brigitte Macron's divorce.

She wrapped up her account by stating that the false claims have created a "whirlwind that never stops" for the first lady.