False Assertions on the Internet Harmed Brigitte Macron's Quality of Life, Child Tells Judges

The French first lady's child, Tiphaine Auzière, testified to a tribunal in Paris that inaccurate assertions spread through social media—among them the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron is transgender—have severely damaged her mother's personal well-being.

Auzière, a legal professional, served as a witness in the trial of a group of defendants allegedly involved in internet-based abuse directed at her mother.

Impact on Personal Routine

She stated that her mother now is always concerned about how she looks, including her fashion choices to the way she carries herself, because of the fear that each snapshot may be misused to support hateful attacks.

"The outcome is that she constantly needs to be careful to her clothing, her body language, irrespective of her actions in her daily life," Auzière informed the judges.

Defendants and Accusations

Ten individuals, aged 41 to 60, are in court for online harassment. A few had modest digital reach, while several more were more prominent.

All is alleged to have making malicious comments about Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality. For some, this included linking the disparity in years with Emmanuel Macron to inappropriate terms.

Upon being found guilty, they could receive up to two years in prison.

Effect on Relatives

Auzière, one of three children from her mother's first marriage, explained how the false claims have caused a "deterioration of her well-being" and a "deterioration of her quality of life".

She said, "Not a day goes by when someone does not talk this to her."

Auzière pointed out the impact on loved ones, such as the kids hearing hurtful comments like "She is deceptive" or "Your grandmother was born male".

"She is unsure how to stop it," Auzière remarked. "She holds no office, she didn't pursue anything, and she is constantly facing these attacks."

Legal Battle History

The Paris trial is part of an ongoing effort in a wider judicial fight against the inaccurate allegation that the first lady is supposedly male.

The Macrons have initiated a legal action in the United States for defamation targeting a political commentator who promoted the allegation.

The legal filing clarifies that the allegation is totally unfounded and points out that the person cited is actually Brigitte Macron's brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

In court, a few individuals disputed the accusations.

  • A retired business owner, serving as a local official, asserted he "did not mean to hurt anyone" and referred to his social media content as satirical.
  • A well-known publicist claimed that his social media shares were meant to be "humor" and voiced worry that the legal action could threaten "free speech".
  • A third defendant said he disseminated information since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "implications for the country".

Relationship Background

The baseless rumor concerning Brigitte Macron's sex circulated to some extent because the Macrons' relationship has frequently been a point of interest online.

Brigitte Macron, who is significantly older than her husband, initially encountered him when she was a educator at his school.

Their relationship evolved through drama activities, and they married in that year, subsequent to her separation.

She finished her account by expressing that the inaccurate allegations have caused a "chaos that never stops" for the first lady.

Kristin Lopez
Kristin Lopez

A historian and writer passionate about uncovering the hidden stories of ancient dynasties and their influence on modern society.