🔗 Share this article Misleading Assertions on the Internet Harmed Brigitte Macron's Well-being, Child Tells Judges Brigitte Macron's child, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a tribunal in Paris that inaccurate assertions circulating on the internet—among them the unfounded rumor that the French first lady is transgender—have significantly harmed her mother's quality of life. Auzière, a legal professional, was called as a witness in the trial of 10 individuals facing charges for internet-based abuse targeting Brigitte Macron. Impact on Everyday Activities Auzière explained that Brigitte Macron now worries constantly about her demeanor, such as the clothes she wears to how she stands, as a result of the fear that every photograph might be distorted to support negative campaigns. "The outcome is that she always has to pay attention to her clothing, her body language, no matter what she's doing in everyday routine," Auzière informed the judges. Accused Individuals and Charges Ten individuals, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for internet-based bullying. A few had limited online influence, while several more were better known. Each one is accused of spreading defamatory content about the first lady's personal life. In certain cases, this included linking the age gap with Emmanuel Macron to hurtful comparisons. If convicted, they could receive as much as 24 months in prison. Effect on Relatives She, one of three children from her mother's initial union, stated how the false claims have resulted in a "decline of her physical state" and a "worsening of her quality of life". She explained, "Not a day goes by when someone avoids discussing these claims to her." Auzière pointed out the effects on her relatives, including the kids learning about false assertions like "Your grandmother is deceptive" or "Your grandmother is actually a man". "She has no idea how to stop it," Auzière testified. "She didn't run for election, she didn't pursue anything, and she is continually subjected to this abuse." Legal Battle History The Paris trial is the latest phase in a wider judicial fight targeting the baseless theory that the first lady was male. They have pursued a legal action in the United States alleging slander against a media personality who amplified the claim. The legal filing clarifies that the accusation is totally unfounded and identifies that the person cited is really her older brother. Trial Testimonies During the trial, some of the accused disputed the allegations. A retired business owner, now a deputy mayor, claimed he "had no purpose to inflict damage" and described his online statements as ironic. Another defendant claimed that his social media shares were meant to be "humor" and voiced worry that the trial could undermine "the right to speak freely". A third defendant testified he posted posts as he believed it was an international matter with "impact on the nation". Past Context The baseless rumor concerning the first lady's sex gained traction to some extent because their union has often been a subject of discussion in digital spaces. Brigitte Macron, who is two decades older than Emmanuel Macron, initially encountered the future president when she was a teacher at his school. The connection between them grew through the school's theatre programme, and they entered into marriage in that year, subsequent to her divorce. She finished her account by saying that the baseless rumors have produced a "chaos that never stops" for Brigitte Macron.