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The French first lady's daughter, her daughter, testified to a tribunal in Paris that misleading allegations spread through social media—among them the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's daily existence.

Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a testifier in the trial of ten people accused of online harassment directed at her mother.

Consequences on Daily Life

She testified that her mother now worries constantly about how she looks, including the clothes she wears to her posture, as a result of the apprehension that any image could be misused to fuel malicious comments.

"The consequence is that she systematically needs to be careful to her outfits, her posture, irrespective of she's doing in everyday routine," she testified.

Defendants and Accusations

The defendants, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for internet-based bullying. A few had a small social media following, while several more were more prominent.

Each one is accused of making malicious comments about the first lady's gender and sexuality. Among them, this included equating her age difference with the French president to hurtful comparisons.

If convicted, they face as much as 24 months in incarceration.

Family Impact

Auzière, one of three children from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, described how the baseless rumors have led to a "worsening of her physical state" and a "deterioration of her quality of life".

She testified, "Scarcely a day passes when someone does not talk this to her."

Auzière emphasized the effects on the family, such as her grandchildren being exposed to false assertions like "Your grandmother is lying" or "She was born male".

"She is unsure what to do about it," she testified. "She didn't run for election, she didn't pursue public attention, and she is permanently experiencing these attacks."

Judicial Proceedings Background

The Paris trial is part of an ongoing effort in a wider judicial fight targeting the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron is transgender.

They have initiated a US lawsuit alleging slander targeting a conservative podcaster who promoted the theory.

The lawsuit states that the claim is totally unfounded and identifies that the person cited is in fact Brigitte Macron's older brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

Throughout the proceedings, a few individuals rejected the charges.

• One defendant, holding a public position, asserted he "had no purpose to hurt anyone" and referred to his posts as humorous.
• A well-known publicist stated that his posts were presented as "irony" and expressed concern that the legal action could threaten "freedom of expression".
• Another individual explained he shared posts since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "consequences for France".

Personal History

The baseless rumor about Brigitte Macron's identity circulated in part because their marriage has long been a subject of discussion online.

The first lady, who is 24 years older than Emmanuel Macron, initially encountered Emmanuel Macron when working as a teacher at the institution he attended.

Their bond evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they married in that year, subsequent to her divorce.

She concluded her statement by expressing that the false claims have produced a "whirlwind that never stops" for her mother.