False Allegations on Social Media Damaged Brigitte Macron's Daily Life, Daughter Testifies to Court

Brigitte Macron's daughter, her daughter, informed a tribunal in Paris that misleading allegations spread through social media—including the groundless claim that Brigitte Macron had a male birth identity—have negatively impacted her mother's quality of life.

She, a attorney, appeared as a witness in the court case of 10 individuals allegedly involved in digital bullying against her mother.

Impact on Personal Routine

She stated that her mother now feels perpetual anxiety about her appearance, such as the clothes she wears to how she stands, because of the apprehension that every photograph could be distorted to advance negative campaigns.

"The result is that she systematically needs to be careful to what she wears, how she holds herself, regardless of she's doing in her daily life," Auzière informed the judges.

Accused Individuals and Accusations

Ten individuals, aged 41 to 60, are on trial for digital abuse. Some had a small social media following, while the rest were more prominent.

Every defendant is charged with spreading defamatory content about the first lady's personal life. For some, this extended to equating the age gap with Emmanuel Macron to hurtful comparisons.

If convicted, they may be sentenced to as much as 24 months in prison.

Family Impact

She, one of three children from her mother's first marriage, explained how the false claims have caused a "decline of her well-being" and a "decline of her quality of life".

She said, "Hardly a day goes by when someone does not talk this to her."

She emphasized the impact on the family, such as the younger generation learning about false assertions like "Your grandmother is deceptive" or "Your grandmother is actually a man".

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

Court Case Context

The legal proceedings represents a recent development in a wider judicial fight against the false claim that the first lady is male.

The Macrons have pursued a legal action in the United States alleging slander targeting a media personality who spread the theory.

The case asserts that the allegation is completely false and notes that the person cited is in fact Brigitte Macron's brother.

Trial Testimonies

Throughout the proceedings, several defendants denied the accusations.

  • A retired business owner, now a deputy mayor, claimed he "had no purpose to cause harm" and described his posts as ironic.
  • A well-known publicist argued that his social media shares were presented as "irony" and expressed concern that the case could threaten "free speech".
  • A third defendant explained he shared posts since he thought it was an international matter with "impact on the nation".

Personal History

The baseless rumor about the first lady's sex circulated to some extent because their marriage has often been a point of interest in digital spaces.

Brigitte Macron, who is two decades older than Emmanuel Macron, initially encountered Emmanuel Macron when she was a educator at his secondary school.

Their bond grew through drama activities, and they entered into marriage in that year, following her divorce.

Auzière wrapped up her testimony by saying that the false claims have caused a "chaos that never stops" for the first lady.

Christian Atkins
Christian Atkins

Maya Chen is a front-end developer and UI designer passionate about creating efficient, accessible web frameworks and sharing insights on modern CSS techniques.