Misleading Assertions Online Negatively Impacted Brigitte Macron's Quality of Life, Daughter Tells Judges
The French first lady's child, her daughter, informed a Paris court that false claims circulating on the internet—including the baseless theory that the French first lady was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's personal well-being.
Auzière, a attorney, served as a witness in the legal proceedings of a group of defendants allegedly involved in online harassment directed at Brigitte Macron.
Impact on Personal Routine
Auzière stated that Brigitte Macron now feels perpetual anxiety about her appearance, such as her fashion choices to how she stands, due to the apprehension that each snapshot may be manipulated to support malicious comments.
"The result is that she systematically has to pay attention to what she wears, her body language, no matter what her activities in everyday routine," Auzière informed the judges.
Those on Trial and Accusations
Eight men and two women, between 41 and 60 years old, are on trial for digital abuse. A few had limited online influence, while the rest were better known.
Each one is charged with making malicious comments about the first lady's gender and sexuality. In certain cases, this extended to equating her age difference with Emmanuel Macron to hurtful comparisons.
Upon being found guilty, they could receive up to two years in jail.
Effect on Relatives
Auzière, a daughter from her mother's first marriage, stated how the baseless rumors have resulted in a "deterioration of her health" and a "decline of her quality of life".
She said, "Hardly a day goes by when an individual does not talk the issue to her."
She highlighted the effects on the family, including her grandchildren hearing malicious statements like "Brigitte is deceptive" or "She is your grandfather".
"She has no idea how to stop it," Auzière testified. "She's not elected, she never asked for public attention, and she is permanently subjected to this abuse."
Legal Battle History
The Paris trial is the latest phase in a wider judicial fight against the false claim that she is supposedly male.
The couple have pursued a case in America alleging slander involving a conservative podcaster who spread the claim.
The lawsuit asserts that the allegation is completely false and identifies that the person cited is actually Brigitte Macron's brother.
Trial Testimonies
During the trial, some of the accused rejected the accusations.
- One defendant, now a deputy mayor, stated he "had no purpose to cause harm" and described his posts as humorous.
- A fiction writer claimed that his social media shares were presented as "satire" and expressed concern that the legal action could threaten "free speech".
- Another individual explained he posted content since he thought it was a global issue with "consequences for France".
Personal History
The baseless rumor regarding Brigitte Macron's identity circulated partly because their union has long been a subject of discussion on the internet.
Brigitte Macron, being 24 years older than the president, initially encountered the future president when she was a instructor at his secondary school.
The connection between them grew through theatrical projects, and they married in the following year, following Brigitte Macron's marriage dissolution.
Auzière finished her testimony by saying that the false claims have caused a "chaos that never stops" for Brigitte Macron.