🔗 Share this article

Brigitte Macron's child, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a tribunal in Paris that inaccurate assertions online—including the groundless claim that she was born a man—have negatively impacted her mother's personal well-being.

She, a legal professional, was called as a testifier in the legal proceedings of 10 individuals accused of digital bullying directed at her mother.

Effects on Personal Routine

She stated that her mother now feels perpetual anxiety about how she looks, from the clothes she wears to how she stands, because of the concern that any image may be distorted to advance malicious comments.

"The outcome is that she systematically needs to be careful to her outfits, her posture, no matter what her actions in everyday routine," she testified.

Defendants and Charges

Ten individuals, aged 41 to 60, are facing charges for digital abuse. Some had modest digital reach, while the rest were more prominent.

Every defendant is accused of posting harmful statements about the first lady's gender and sexuality. In certain cases, this included linking the disparity in years with Emmanuel Macron to hurtful comparisons.

Upon being found guilty, they face a maximum of two years in incarceration.

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, one of three children from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, described how the false claims have caused a "deterioration of her health" and a "deterioration of her daily happiness".

She explained, "Hardly a day passes when someone does not talk the issue to her."

She pointed out the effects on the family, such as the kids being exposed to malicious statements like "She is lying" or "She is actually a man".

"She does not know what to do about it," she testified. "She holds no office, she never asked for anything, and she is constantly subjected to this abuse."

Legal Battle Background

This case represents a recent development in a broader legal battle addressing the false claim that she is supposedly a man.

The couple have pursued a legal action in the United States alleging slander against a political commentator who promoted the claim.

The lawsuit asserts that the allegation is totally unfounded and notes that the individual referenced is really her brother.

Defendants' Responses

Throughout the proceedings, several defendants disputed the charges.

• An individual, now a deputy mayor, claimed he "had no purpose to cause harm" and referred to his online statements as ironic.
• A fiction writer stated that his online activity were presented as "satire" and highlighted apprehension that the trial could undermine "freedom of expression".
• An art gallery owner testified he posted posts since he thought it was an international matter with "consequences for France".

Relationship Background

The baseless rumor regarding Brigitte Macron's gender circulated to some extent because their marriage has long been a point of interest in digital spaces.

She, aged 24 years older than the president, first met the future president when she was a instructor at the institution he attended.

Their relationship evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in 2007, subsequent to her separation.

Auzière finished her testimony by stating that the inaccurate allegations have produced a "whirlwind that never stops" for the first lady.