Misleading Assertions on the Internet Damaged Brigitte Macron's Daily Life, Daughter Testifies to Court

Brigitte Macron's child, Tiphaine Auzière, has told a Paris court that misleading allegations spread through social media—such as the groundless claim that the French first lady had a male birth identity—have severely damaged her mother's quality of life.

Auzière, a attorney, served as a testifier in the court case of 10 individuals facing charges for online harassment targeting the first lady.

Consequences on Personal Routine

Auzière stated that her mother now is always concerned about her appearance, including her fashion choices to her posture, due to the fear that each snapshot may be distorted to fuel hateful attacks.

"The outcome is that she always has to pay attention to her clothing, how she holds herself, no matter what she's doing in day-to-day existence," she informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Accusations

Ten individuals, between 41 and 60 years old, are in court for digital abuse. Some had limited online influence, while the rest were better known.

All is accused of spreading defamatory content about the first lady's personal life. For some, this involved comparing the disparity in years with Emmanuel Macron to offensive labels.

Upon being found guilty, they could receive a maximum of two years in prison.

Effect on Relatives

She, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's initial union, stated how the baseless rumors have caused a "decline of her well-being" and a "worsening of her quality of life".

She testified, "Not a day passes when an individual fails to mention this to her."

Auzière pointed out the impact on loved ones, including her grandchildren learning about false assertions like "Your grandmother is not truthful" or "Your grandmother is actually a man".

"She does not know what to do about it," Auzière remarked. "She's not elected, she has not sought public attention, and she is constantly subjected to these attacks."

Court Case History

The Paris trial is the latest phase in a broader legal battle addressing the baseless theory that she is male.

They have initiated a US lawsuit over false statements against a political commentator who spread the allegation.

The lawsuit asserts that the accusation is entirely inaccurate and points out that the person cited is in fact her older brother.

Defendants' Responses

In court, some of the accused rejected the accusations.

  • A retired business owner, now a deputy mayor, claimed he "did not mean to hurt anyone" and described his online statements as satirical.
  • Another defendant claimed that his social media shares were presented as "satire" and expressed concern that the legal action could endanger "the right to speak freely".
  • A third defendant testified he shared content since he thought it was a worldwide topic with "impact on the nation".

Personal History

The false theory about the first lady's sex spread to some extent because their marriage has frequently been a topic of comment in digital spaces.

She, aged 24 years older than the president, initially encountered the future president when working as a teacher at the institution he attended.

Their bond grew through drama activities, and they married in that year, following her marriage dissolution.

Auzière concluded her account by expressing that the inaccurate allegations have caused a "chaos that never stops" for Brigitte Macron.

Anne Smith
Anne Smith

Elara Vance is a tech journalist and digital strategist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and their impact on society.