🔗 Share this article

Brigitte Macron's child, her daughter, informed a tribunal in Paris that inaccurate assertions spread through social media—among them the unfounded rumor that the French first lady is transgender—have severely damaged her mother's quality of life.

Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, served as a testifier in the legal proceedings of a group of defendants facing charges for digital bullying targeting her mother.

Impact on Daily Life

She testified that her mother now feels perpetual anxiety about her demeanor, such as her fashion choices to the way she carries herself, due to the fear that each snapshot may be manipulated to support malicious comments.

"The outcome is that she systematically needs to be careful to her clothing, her body language, irrespective of her activities in day-to-day existence," Auzière told the court.

Those on Trial and Accusations

Eight men and two women, between 41 and 60 years old, are on trial for online harassment. Several had limited online influence, while others were better known.

Each one is alleged to have spreading defamatory content about Brigitte Macron's identity. Among them, this extended to comparing the age gap with the French president to offensive labels.

If found responsible, they face a maximum of two years in jail.

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, one of three children from her mother's first marriage, stated how the inaccurate allegations have resulted in a "deterioration of her physical state" and a "decline of her quality of life".

She said, "Scarcely a day passes when an individual fails to mention these claims to her."

She emphasized the repercussions on the family, including the younger generation being exposed to malicious statements like "Brigitte is lying" or "She is actually a man".

"She does not know how to end it," Auzière testified. "She didn't run for election, she never asked for public attention, and she is constantly subjected to this abuse."

Court Case History

This case is part of an ongoing effort in a broader legal battle targeting the false claim that the first lady is male.

The couple have pursued a US lawsuit alleging slander involving a political commentator who promoted the theory.

The legal filing states that the claim is totally unfounded and points out that the individual referenced is really her sibling.

Trial Testimonies

During the trial, several defendants rejected the accusations.

• One defendant, holding a public position, claimed he "did not mean to hurt anyone" and described his posts as humorous.
• A well-known publicist argued that his social media shares were presented as "satire" and highlighted apprehension that the case could undermine "the right to speak freely".
• Another individual testified he shared content because he felt it was a global issue with "impact on the nation".

Personal History

The false theory regarding the first lady's sex gained traction partly because their union has often been a point of interest online.

The first lady, who is two decades older than her husband, originally knew the future president when she was a educator at his school.

The connection between them developed through the school's theatre programme, and they married in the following year, subsequent to her marriage dissolution.

Auzière finished her testimony by expressing that the false claims have created a "chaos that does not cease" for the first lady.