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The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a tribunal in Paris that false claims spread through social media—including the unfounded rumor that she had a male birth identity—have negatively impacted her mother's personal well-being.

She, a legal professional, served as a witness in the trial of 10 individuals facing charges for online harassment targeting Brigitte Macron.

Impact on Everyday Activities

Auzière stated that the first lady now worries constantly about how she looks, such as her attire to her posture, due to the apprehension that every photograph may be distorted to fuel malicious comments.

"The result is that she constantly has to pay attention to her outfits, her posture, no matter what she's doing in her daily life," she testified.

Accused Individuals and Charges

The defendants, in that age range, are facing charges for online harassment. Some had a small social media following, while others were better known.

Every defendant is accused of making malicious comments about the first lady's gender and sexuality. For some, this included comparing the age gap with the French president to inappropriate terms.

If found responsible, they could receive a maximum of two years in incarceration.

Family Impact

Auzière, one of three children from her mother's first marriage, stated how the false claims have caused a "deterioration of her health" and a "decline of her overall existence".

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

Auzière highlighted the impact on loved ones, for example the younger generation learning about false assertions like "She is lying" or "Your grandmother is actually a man".

"She does not know what to do about it," she stated. "She didn't run for election, she never asked for anything, and she is continually subjected to this abuse."

Legal Battle History

The legal proceedings is the latest phase in a broader legal battle targeting the inaccurate allegation that she is male.

The couple have also filed a legal action in the United States for defamation involving a conservative podcaster who spread the claim.

The legal filing clarifies that the allegation is totally unfounded and notes that the individual referenced is actually her sibling.

Accused Individuals' Statements

During the trial, some of the accused denied the allegations.

• An individual, serving as a local official, claimed he "did not mean to inflict damage" and described his social media content as ironic.
• A fiction writer claimed that his social media shares were intended as "humor" and highlighted apprehension that the trial could undermine "freedom of expression".
• A third defendant said he disseminated information because he felt it was an international matter with "consequences for France".

Relationship Background

The false theory regarding the first lady's gender circulated in part because their union has often been a point of interest online.

Brigitte Macron, who is 24 years older than the president, originally knew the future president when she was a instructor at the institution he attended.

Their relationship developed through drama activities, and they wed in the following year, subsequent to her marriage dissolution.

Auzière finished her testimony by expressing that the false claims have created a "chaos that never stops" for Brigitte Macron.