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Brigitte Macron's daughter, her daughter, has told a Paris court that false claims spread through social media—among them the baseless theory that the French first lady is transgender—have negatively impacted her mother's quality of life.

She, a 41-year-old lawyer, served as a testifier in the legal proceedings of 10 individuals allegedly involved in online harassment directed at Brigitte Macron.

Impact on Personal Routine

Auzière testified that Brigitte Macron now is always concerned about her appearance, including the clothes she wears to how she stands, because of the concern that any image might be distorted to support hateful attacks.

"The result is that she always needs to be careful to her outfits, her body language, no matter what her actions in day-to-day existence," she told the court.

Those on Trial and Accusations

The defendants, between 41 and 60 years old, are in court for online harassment. A few had limited online influence, while several more were better known.

Each one is alleged to have spreading defamatory content about the first lady's personal life. In certain cases, this included linking the age gap with her husband to hurtful comparisons.

If found responsible, they could receive up to two years in jail.

Consequences for Loved Ones

Auzière, one of three children from her mother's initial union, explained how the baseless rumors have resulted in a "decline of her physical state" and a "decline of her quality of life".

She explained, "Hardly a day goes by when a person avoids discussing these claims to her."

She pointed out the impact on the family, such as the kids hearing malicious statements like "Your grandmother is lying" or "She was born male".

"She has no idea how to stop it," she remarked. "She didn't run for election, she didn't pursue anything, and she is constantly experiencing these assaults."

Court Case History

This case is the latest phase in a extended court case against the inaccurate allegation that the first lady is transgender.

The couple have initiated a case in America for defamation against a conservative podcaster who amplified the claim.

The case clarifies that the claim is completely false and points out that the name mentioned is in fact her sibling.

Trial Testimonies

During the trial, several defendants disputed the charges.

• One defendant, now a deputy mayor, claimed he "had no purpose to inflict damage" and referred to his online statements as satirical.
• Another defendant claimed that his social media shares were presented as "satire" and voiced worry that the case could endanger "the right to speak freely".
• A third defendant testified he shared information because he felt it was a global issue with "consequences for France".

Personal History

The inaccurate claim concerning Brigitte Macron's identity spread in part because their marriage has often been a topic of comment on the internet.

She, being 24 years older than Emmanuel Macron, originally knew him when she was a educator at the institution he attended.

The connection between them evolved through drama activities, and they married in the following year, subsequent to Brigitte Macron's separation.

Auzière wrapped up her testimony by saying that the inaccurate allegations have caused a "chaos that never stops" for her mother.