Brigitte Macron's daughter, her daughter, testified to a Paris court that misleading allegations spread through social media—including the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron was born a man—have significantly harmed her mother's quality of life.
Auzière, a legal professional, was called as a testifier in the trial of 10 individuals allegedly involved in internet-based abuse targeting the first lady.
Impact on Daily Life
Auzière explained that her mother now is always concerned about how she looks, from her attire to the way she carries herself, because of the concern that each snapshot may be distorted to advance malicious comments.
"The outcome is that she systematically has to pay attention to what she wears, how she holds herself, regardless of her actions in everyday routine," she informed the judges.
Those on Trial and Accusations
Eight men and two women, in that age range, are facing charges for online harassment. Several had a small social media following, while others were better known.
All is charged with making malicious comments about the first lady's personal life. In certain cases, this extended to comparing the disparity in years with Emmanuel Macron to inappropriate terms.
Upon being found guilty, they may be sentenced to as much as 24 months in prison.
Effect on Relatives
Auzière, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, described how the baseless rumors have caused a "decline of her well-being" and a "decline of her daily happiness".
She said, "Hardly a day passes when someone avoids discussing this to her."
She highlighted the repercussions on her relatives, such as the younger generation being exposed to false assertions like "Your grandmother is not truthful" or "She is actually a man".
"She has no idea what to do about it," Auzière remarked. "She's not elected, she has not sought any of this, and she is permanently subjected to this abuse."
Court Case Context
The legal proceedings is part of an ongoing effort in a extended court case against the inaccurate allegation that she was a man.
They have initiated a US lawsuit alleging slander targeting a conservative podcaster who promoted the theory.
The legal filing asserts that the allegation is completely false and identifies that the name mentioned is really her brother.
Trial Testimonies
Throughout the proceedings, a few individuals rejected the allegations.
- A retired business owner, now a deputy mayor, asserted he "never intended to hurt anyone" and described his social media content as ironic.
- A fiction writer claimed that his social media shares were meant to be "satire" and highlighted apprehension that the legal action could endanger "the right to speak freely".
- A third defendant explained he posted posts as he believed it was an international matter with "consequences for France".
Relationship Background
The false theory regarding the first lady's gender circulated in part because their union has long been a point of interest in digital spaces.
Brigitte Macron, aged 24 years older than Emmanuel Macron, originally knew the future president when working as a teacher at his secondary school.
Their relationship evolved through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in that year, following Brigitte Macron's separation.
Auzière wrapped up her account by expressing that the false claims have created a "chaos that continues endlessly" for the first lady.
