Misleading Claims on the Internet Damaged Brigitte Macron's Well-being, Daughter Testifies to the Tribunal
The French first lady's child, her daughter, has told a Paris court that false claims spread through social media—such as the baseless theory that Brigitte Macron had a male birth identity—have negatively impacted her mother's daily existence.
She, a 41-year-old lawyer, served as a testifier in the legal proceedings of a group of defendants allegedly involved in internet-based abuse targeting the first lady.
Effects on Personal Routine
Auzière explained that Brigitte Macron now feels perpetual anxiety about how she looks, including her fashion choices to her posture, as a result of the apprehension that every photograph could be misused to fuel malicious comments.
"The consequence is that she constantly needs to be careful to what she wears, how she holds herself, no matter what her actions in her daily life," Auzière testified.
Those on Trial and Allegations
Eight men and two women, between 41 and 60 years old, are facing charges for internet-based bullying. Several had a small social media following, while several more were more prominent.
Every defendant is charged with making malicious comments about the first lady's personal life. Among them, this involved comparing the age gap with the French president to offensive labels.
Upon being found guilty, they could receive a maximum of two years in prison.
Consequences for Loved Ones
She, a daughter from Brigitte Macron's first marriage, explained how the inaccurate allegations have led to a "decline of her health" and a "decline of her overall existence".
She explained, "Not a day goes by when someone avoids discussing these claims to her."
Auzière highlighted the repercussions on her relatives, including her grandchildren hearing hurtful comments like "Your grandmother is not truthful" or "She was born male".
"She has no idea how to stop it," Auzière remarked. "She didn't run for election, she has not sought anything, and she is continually experiencing these assaults."
Judicial Proceedings Background
The Paris trial represents a recent development in a wider judicial fight addressing the baseless theory that she is supposedly transgender.
The Macrons have initiated a US lawsuit for defamation against a media personality who amplified the allegation.
The case clarifies that the allegation is totally unfounded and notes that the individual referenced is really her older brother.
Defendants' Responses
During the trial, several defendants denied the charges.
- An individual, now a deputy mayor, claimed he "did not mean to cause harm" and referred to his posts as satirical.
- A fiction writer stated that his online activity were meant to be "satire" and highlighted apprehension that the case could undermine "the right to speak freely".
- A third defendant testified he disseminated posts because he felt it was an international matter with "implications for the country".
Personal History
The inaccurate claim about Brigitte Macron's sex gained traction to some extent because their marriage has long been a topic of comment on the internet.
The first lady, who is two decades older than her husband, initially encountered him when she was a educator at the institution he attended.
Their bond grew through the school's theatre programme, and they wed in the following year, after her marriage dissolution.
She wrapped up her statement by saying that the inaccurate allegations have produced a "storm that never stops" for Brigitte Macron.