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The French first lady's child, her daughter, has told a Paris court that inaccurate assertions online—such as the unfounded rumor that the French first lady was born a man—have negatively impacted her mother's daily existence.

She, a legal professional, appeared as a witness in the trial of 10 individuals facing charges for digital bullying against her mother.

Effects on Everyday Activities

She testified that Brigitte Macron now is always concerned about how she looks, such as her attire to the way she carries herself, as a result of the concern that any image might be distorted to fuel negative campaigns.

"The consequence is that she systematically has to pay attention to her clothing, her posture, regardless of she's doing in everyday routine," she informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Accusations

Ten individuals, between 41 and 60 years old, are in court for online harassment. A few had a small social media following, while the rest were more prominent.

Every defendant is accused of posting harmful statements about Brigitte Macron's identity. In certain cases, this involved equating the age gap with her husband to inappropriate terms.

If convicted, they may be sentenced to a maximum of two years in incarceration.

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's previous marriage, stated how the inaccurate allegations have resulted in a "decline of her well-being" and a "decline of her overall existence".

She testified, "Scarcely a day goes by when a person fails to mention this to her."

She pointed out the repercussions on loved ones, for example the kids learning about false assertions like "She is not truthful" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She is unsure how to stop it," Auzière stated. "She holds no office, she has not sought anything, and she is permanently subjected to this abuse."

Judicial Proceedings Context

The legal proceedings represents a recent development in a wider judicial fight targeting the inaccurate allegation that she was a man.

They have also filed a US lawsuit alleging slander involving a political commentator who promoted the claim.

The lawsuit asserts that the allegation is completely false and identifies that the name mentioned is actually Brigitte Macron's older brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

In court, a few individuals rejected the accusations.

• A retired business owner, now a deputy mayor, claimed he "had no purpose to cause harm" and described his online statements as ironic.
• A fiction writer claimed that his posts were intended as "irony" and expressed concern that the legal action could undermine "the right to speak freely".
• Another individual explained he shared information since he thought it was an international matter with "impact on the nation".

Personal History

The inaccurate claim concerning Brigitte Macron's gender spread to some extent because the Macrons' relationship has often been a point of interest on the internet.

She, aged two decades older than the president, first met Emmanuel Macron when serving as a teacher at his school.

Their relationship developed through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in the following year, after Brigitte Macron's separation.

Auzière concluded her testimony by stating that the inaccurate allegations have caused a "whirlwind that does not cease" for the first lady.