Brigitte Macron Health Decline | French First Lady Faces Sexist Cyberbullying Trial

French First Lady Brigitte Macron is reportedly suffering from declining health due to years of sexist online abuse, according to her daughter Tiphaine Auzière. Speaking before a Paris court, Auzière revealed that relentless cyber-bullying and false gender conspiracy theories have deeply affected her 72-year-old mother’s well-being and sense of security.

Auzière described how Brigitte Macron, who has never held elected office, is forced to monitor her image and behavior constantly, aware that every public appearance could be misrepresented online. “She’s always paying attention to what she wears and how she stands because she knows her image can be distorted,” Auzière told the court.

The ongoing trial involves ten individuals—eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60—accused of spreading defamatory and sexist rumors online. The accused allegedly made malicious comments about Macron’s gender and age gap with President Emmanuel Macron, at times equating their relationship to “paedophilia.” French prosecutors have demanded suspended prison sentences of three to twelve months and fines up to €8,000 ($9,300) for the offenders.

The false claims that Brigitte Macron was “born male” first surfaced during Emmanuel Macron’s 2017 presidential campaign, later gaining traction through far-right networks and online conspiracy platforms in France and abroad. The controversy reignited in 2024 after Macron filed a defamation lawsuit in the U.S. against right-wing commentator Candace Owens, who amplified the false narrative.

Brigitte Macron herself did not attend the hearing, but her daughter made a heartfelt plea for accountability, emphasizing the personal toll of digital harassment. “She hasn’t asked anything of anyone, and yet she comes under attack,” Auzière said, adding that even the first lady’s grandchildren faced bullying at school because of the rumors.

The case highlights the growing dangers of online misogyny and disinformation targeting public figures, particularly women, in an era where social media platforms amplify baseless rumors at lightning speed.