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The French first lady's daughter, her daughter, informed a tribunal in Paris that false claims online—including the unfounded rumor that Brigitte Macron is transgender—have significantly harmed her mother's personal well-being.

She, a attorney, was called as a witness in the court case of a group of defendants facing charges for digital bullying targeting her mother.

Impact on Daily Life

Auzière testified that her mother now worries constantly about how she looks, including her fashion choices to how she stands, due to the apprehension that any image could be distorted to support malicious comments.

"The consequence is that she always must be cautious to her clothing, her body language, no matter what her activities in day-to-day existence," she informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Allegations

Ten individuals, between 41 and 60 years old, are in court for internet-based bullying. Several had modest digital reach, while several more were better known.

Each one is alleged to have spreading defamatory content about the first lady's personal life. Among them, this involved linking the disparity in years with Emmanuel Macron to hurtful comparisons.

Upon being found guilty, they could receive up to two years in incarceration.

Consequences for Loved Ones

Auzière, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's previous marriage, explained how the false claims have led to a "worsening of her well-being" and a "decline of her overall existence".

She testified, "Scarcely a day passes when a person fails to mention these claims to her."

Auzière highlighted the repercussions on her relatives, including her grandchildren being exposed to malicious statements like "Brigitte is lying" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She is unsure what to do about it," Auzière stated. "She's not elected, she didn't pursue anything, and she is permanently facing these assaults."

Court Case Background

This case represents a recent development in a extended court case addressing the false claim that she was a man.

The Macrons have pursued a US lawsuit for defamation against a media personality who promoted the theory.

The case asserts that the allegation is totally unfounded and points out that the individual referenced is actually Brigitte Macron's brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

In court, some of the accused rejected the charges.

• An individual, now a deputy mayor, stated he "never intended to hurt anyone" and referred to his online statements as humorous.
• A well-known publicist claimed that his posts were meant to be "irony" and highlighted apprehension that the case could threaten "the right to speak freely".
• An art gallery owner testified he posted content because he felt it was a global issue with "consequences for France".

Past Context

The baseless rumor concerning Brigitte Macron's identity spread to some extent because the Macrons' relationship has frequently been a subject of discussion on the internet.

The first lady, who is two decades older than her husband, originally knew him when she was a instructor at his secondary school.

Their bond developed through the school's theatre programme, and they entered into marriage in 2007, following her divorce.

She concluded her account by stating that the baseless rumors have created a "storm that continues endlessly" for Brigitte Macron.