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Brigitte Macron's daughter Tiphaine Auzière told a Paris court that sexist cyber-bullying had led to a deterioration in her mother's health, forcing the French first lady to constantly monitor her image and behavior.
France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron. (AP Photo)
UPDATED: Oct 29, 2025 07:34 IST
The daughter of French First Lady Brigitte Macron told a Paris court that relentless online abuse and conspiracy theories have taken a toll on her mother’s health and daily life.
Tiphaine Auzire, 41, said the “sexist cyber-bullying” that falsely claims her mother was born male had caused a clear deterioration in the 72-year-old’s well-being.
“It is important to be here today to express the harm my mother has faced,” Auzire said. “I’ve seen a deterioration in her health since these attacks began.”
Speaking on the second day of the trial of 10 people accused of spreading the false claims, Auzire described how her mother had been forced to monitor every public appearance. “She’s constantly having to pay attention to what she wears, how she holds herself, because she knows that her image can be distorted,” she told the court.
“She hasn’t been elected, she hasn’t asked anything of anyone, and yet she comes under attack,” Auzire added, noting that the rumours even reached her mother’s grandchildren, who were teased at school.
The trial comes after President Emmanuel Macron and his wife filed a U.S. defamation lawsuit in July against right-wing influencer Candace Owens over false claims about the French first lady’s gender. The rumour has long dogged the couple, along with criticism of their age gap.
The eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, being tried in a Paris criminal court, are accused of making numerous malicious comments about Brigitte Macron's gender and sexuality, even equating her age difference with her husband to "paedophilia". French prosecutors are seeking suspended prison terms of three to 12 months and fines of up to €8,000 ($9,300) for the accused, who include a local official, a teacher, and a social-media influencer known for spreading conspiracy content.
Brigitte Macron, who did not attend the hearing, filed a complaint in August 2024 after years of online harassment alleging she was born male. The rumours, which first surfaced during President Emmanuel Macron’s 2017 campaign, have been amplified by far-right networks in France and abroad.
- Ends
With inputs from agencies
Published By:
Aashish Vashistha
Published On:
Oct 29, 2025
