Brigitte Macron’s daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified in a Paris court regarding the impact of online harassment on her mother’s health. Auzière, who is the stepdaughter of French President Emmanuel Macron, spoke on the second day of a trial involving ten defendants accused of spreading unfounded allegations concerning Brigitte Macron’s gender and sexuality.
Brigitte Macron, 72, has faced persistent conspiracy theories suggesting she is transgender. During her testimony, Auzière highlighted the negative effects of this harassment, claiming that her mother’s health had deteriorated since these rumors began. She noted that Brigitte Macron has been cautious about her public appearance, aware that her image could be manipulated to support these claims. Auzière emphasized the daily reminders of the allegations that her mother receives and mentioned that the situation has also affected her children, who have been subjected to teasing in school.
Prosecutors are seeking suspended prison sentences ranging from three to twelve months for the accused, along with fines of up to €8,000 (approximately $9,300). The defendants range in age from 41 to 65 and include individuals from various backgrounds, such as an elected official and a teacher. One defendant, Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, reportedly informed his 200,000 online followers that Brigitte Macron is transgender and equated the couple’s 24-year age difference with “state-sanctioned paedophilia.” Poirson-Atlan defended his remarks in court by describing himself as a “satirist.”
In a related case, the Macron couple plans to provide photographic and scientific evidence in a U.S. court against commentator Candace Owens, who has made similar claims about Brigitte Macron. The couple first met when she was his teacher, and they married in 2007.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czr16vjk8zlo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss