Brigitte Macron’s daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, appeared before a Paris court to testify about the impact of years of sexist online abuse and false rumours targeting her mother. She described in painful detail how the harassment had not only spread widely but had also left lasting emotional and physical effects on the French First Lady. According to Auzière, the constant wave of conspiracy theories and derogatory comments has forced her mother to live under immense pressure, always cautious of how she appears in public and how her words or actions might be misrepresented online.
Auzière, who is 41 years old, spoke firmly as she explained that the false narrative — claiming Brigitte Macron was born male — has been deeply damaging. She said that such malicious content has led to a visible decline in her mother’s health and mental well-being over time. “It is important to be here to express the harm my mother has faced,” she stated, adding that she had personally witnessed her mother’s gradual deterioration since the beginning of these relentless attacks. Her words reflected both concern and exhaustion at the toll this campaign of hate had taken on their family life.
She further elaborated that Brigitte Macron now lives with a constant awareness of how every gesture or outfit might be scrutinized. “She’s constantly having to pay attention to what she wears, how she holds herself, because she knows that her image can be distorted,” Auzière told the court. She emphasized that her mother never sought public office or political power, yet finds herself persistently targeted. The attacks, she said, have even extended to the younger members of the family, with her mother’s grandchildren reportedly teased at school because of these falsehoods.
The ongoing trial involves ten individuals — eight men and two women aged between 41 and 60 — who are accused of spreading hateful and defamatory content online about Brigitte Macron’s gender and sexuality. French prosecutors have demanded suspended prison sentences ranging from three to twelve months and fines of up to €8,000 (approximately $9,300). Among the accused are a teacher, a local official, and a social media influencer known for promoting conspiracy theories. The proceedings highlight how the digital spread of misinformation can cross ethical and legal boundaries, deeply affecting the lives of public figures and their families.
This case follows a related defamation lawsuit filed in the United States in July 2024 by President Emmanuel Macron and his wife against right-wing influencer Candace Owens, who had also circulated the same false claims. The rumours, which first surfaced during Emmanuel Macron’s 2017 presidential campaign, have been repeatedly amplified by far-right groups in France and abroad.
Although Brigitte Macron herself did not attend the hearing, her complaint, filed in August 2024, details years of persistent harassment, humiliation, and distress. The false narrative continues to resurface despite repeated debunking, illustrating how misinformation can endure in digital spaces and erode the dignity and privacy of those it targets. The trial marks a crucial attempt by the French judiciary to hold individuals accountable for the online dissemination of hate and defamation that has plagued the country’s First Lady for nearly a decade.
