Misleading Allegations on the Internet Negatively Impacted Brigitte Macron's Daily Life, Child Informs Court

Brigitte Macron's daughter, her daughter, testified to a tribunal in Paris that false claims online—among them the groundless claim that she was born a man—have severely damaged her mother's quality of life.

Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, served as a witness in the legal proceedings of 10 individuals facing charges for internet-based abuse directed at Brigitte Macron.

Effects on Personal Routine

She stated that Brigitte Macron now is always concerned about how she looks, including her attire to her posture, as a result of the fear that every photograph may be misused to support hateful attacks.

"The result is that she always needs to be careful to her outfits, her posture, regardless of her activities in her daily life," she told the court.

Defendants and Allegations

Ten individuals, in that age range, are in court for internet-based bullying. A few had a small social media following, while the rest were better known.

Each one is charged with posting harmful statements about Brigitte Macron's personal life. In certain cases, this involved equating her age difference with the French president to hurtful comparisons.

Upon being found guilty, they face a maximum of two years in jail.

Consequences for Loved Ones

She, a family member from Brigitte Macron's previous marriage, stated how the false claims have caused a "worsening of her health" and a "decline of her quality of life".

She said, "Scarcely a day passes when a person avoids discussing this to her."

She highlighted the effects on her relatives, including the kids hearing malicious statements like "Brigitte is lying" or "She is your grandfather".

"She has no idea how to stop it," she testified. "She's not elected, she didn't pursue any of this, and she is constantly experiencing these assaults."

Legal Battle Background

The Paris trial is the latest phase in a wider judicial fight against the false claim that she is transgender.

The couple have also filed a US lawsuit over false statements involving a political commentator who promoted the claim.

The legal filing states that the accusation is totally unfounded and identifies that the name mentioned is in fact her older brother.

Trial Testimonies

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

• One defendant, serving as a local official, claimed he "had no purpose to cause harm" and referred to his social media content as humorous.
• A fiction writer stated that his social media shares were intended as "satire" and voiced worry that the case could undermine "the right to speak freely".
• A third defendant explained he disseminated content as he believed it was a worldwide topic with "consequences for France".

Personal History

The inaccurate claim about the first lady's identity spread to some extent because their union has often been a point of interest online.

She, who is significantly older than the president, originally knew him when working as a educator at his secondary school.

The connection between them evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they entered into marriage in the following year, after Brigitte Macron's divorce.

She finished her statement by expressing that the inaccurate allegations have produced a "whirlwind that never stops" for Brigitte Macron.