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The French first lady's child, her daughter, has told a judicial body in Paris that inaccurate assertions circulating on the internet—among them the baseless theory that the French first lady is transgender—have severely damaged her mother's personal well-being.

Auzière, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a testifier in the court case of 10 individuals allegedly involved in digital bullying targeting the first lady.

Consequences on Everyday Activities

She stated that her mother now is always concerned about her demeanor, from the clothes she wears to the way she carries herself, as a result of the apprehension that each snapshot may be misused to advance negative campaigns.

"The result is that she constantly has to pay attention to what she wears, her posture, regardless of her actions in everyday routine," she told the court.

Those on Trial and Allegations

Eight men and two women, in that age range, are in court for internet-based bullying. A few had limited online influence, while others were more visible.

Every defendant is charged with making malicious comments about the first lady's gender and sexuality. In certain cases, this extended to comparing the disparity in years with the French president to hurtful comparisons.

If found responsible, they face up to two years in prison.

Consequences for Loved Ones

She, a family member from her mother's initial union, stated how the false claims have caused a "decline of her well-being" and a "worsening of her daily happiness".

She said, "Not a day passes when someone avoids discussing these claims to her."

She pointed out the effects on loved ones, for example the younger generation hearing false assertions like "Brigitte is lying" or "She is actually a man".

"She does not know how to stop it," she stated. "She's not elected, she didn't pursue public attention, and she is continually facing these attacks."

Legal Battle History

The Paris trial is part of an ongoing effort in a broader legal battle targeting the inaccurate allegation that the first lady is a man.

The couple have pursued a US lawsuit for defamation against a political commentator who promoted the theory.

The lawsuit states that the allegation is totally unfounded and points out that the individual referenced is in fact Brigitte Macron's brother.

Accused Individuals' Statements

Throughout the proceedings, several defendants disputed the accusations.

• An individual, holding a public position, asserted he "had no purpose to inflict damage" and referred to his social media content as ironic.
• Another defendant argued that his online activity were meant to be "satire" and voiced worry that the case could threaten "freedom of expression".
• Another individual explained he posted information since he thought it was a global issue with "implications for the country".

Relationship Background

The inaccurate claim about Brigitte Macron's sex gained traction partly because their marriage has often been a subject of discussion on the internet.

She, who is significantly older than Emmanuel Macron, first met the future president when working as a teacher at the institution he attended.

Their relationship evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in that year, subsequent to her marriage dissolution.

Auzière finished her testimony by stating that the false claims have produced a "chaos that does not cease" for her mother.