The French first lady's daughter, her daughter, testified to a Paris court that inaccurate assertions spread through social media—such as the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron had a male birth identity—have significantly harmed her mother's daily existence.
She, a 41-year-old lawyer, appeared as a witness in the legal proceedings of ten people allegedly involved in digital bullying directed at her mother.
Auzière testified that the first lady now feels perpetual anxiety about how she looks, such as her attire to how she stands, due to the concern that any image might be misused to advance hateful attacks.
"The outcome is that she systematically must be cautious to her outfits, how she holds herself, irrespective of her activities in her daily life," Auzière informed the judges.
Ten individuals, in that age range, are in court for internet-based bullying. Some had limited online influence, while several more were more visible.
All is charged with posting harmful statements about Brigitte Macron's personal life. For some, this included equating her age difference with the French president to inappropriate terms.
If convicted, they may be sentenced to a maximum of two years in jail.
She, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, described how the baseless rumors have led to a "deterioration of her physical state" and a "worsening of her quality of life".
She said, "Hardly a day passes when an individual does not talk this to her."
Auzière highlighted the effects on loved ones, for example the younger generation learning about malicious statements like "Brigitte is deceptive" or "She is actually a man".
"She is unsure how to end it," Auzière testified. "She didn't run for election, she didn't pursue anything, and she is constantly experiencing these assaults."
The legal proceedings is part of an ongoing effort in a extended court case addressing the inaccurate allegation that she is transgender.
The Macrons have initiated a case in America for defamation against a political commentator who promoted the allegation.
The case asserts that the claim is completely false and notes that the person cited is in fact Brigitte Macron's older brother.
During the trial, several defendants rejected the charges.
The inaccurate claim regarding the first lady's gender gained traction partly because their marriage has often been a point of interest online.
Brigitte Macron, being two decades older than the president, initially encountered Emmanuel Macron when she was a teacher at his secondary school.
The connection between them grew through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in the following year, subsequent to her divorce.
She finished her testimony by stating that the false claims have created a "storm that continues endlessly" for the first lady.
