Since her arrival at the Élysée Palace on the arm of French President, Emmanuel Macron, who was sworn in for the first time on 14 May 2017, Brigitte Macron has been in the spotlight. Not only for her actions as First Lady of France, notably for the charity Les Pièces Jaunes, but also because of the many rumours about her. One of the most persistent and malicious is the erroneous and transphobic conspiracy theory that she is as a man.
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This false information has become so widespread that Brigitte Macron had been forced to react publicly and take legal action. Last January, she even clarified her position on television, expressing her frustration at the slowness of the judicial response and the need to combat these unfounded allegations, which are disrupting not only her life but also that of her family. The rumour even reached the US, where a right-wing activist thought it wise to take part in it.
A series about Brigitte Macron in the books
While the many rumours surrounding Brigitte Macron are difficult for her to deal with, a series inspired by her life is now in preparation. On 16 April, the French film giant Gaumont made a surprise announcement that it was developing a biopic entitled Brigitte, A Free Woman. Written by Bénédicte Charles and Olivier Pouponneau, the series will consist of six 45-minute episodes and will retrace ‘the romantic trajectory of the First Lady’. This announcement promises to generate even more interest in the former French teacher.
While it remains to be seen how the series will address the many challenges and personal moments that the First Lady has gone through, the news has prompted reactions from her two daughters Laurence and Tiphaine, her children from her first marriage to André-Louis Auzière.
Laurence annoyed by the 'lies about her mother'
In the columns of Gala, published on Thursday 16 May, 2024, Brigitte Macron's daughters expressed their feelings about the proposed series. Laurence, the eldest, who says she is an optimist by nature, hopes that the series will be sympathetic and faithful to reality. Even though she doesn't hide her fear of new false accusations against her mother. She explains:
Of course I'm fed up with all the nastiness and lies about my mum! The conspiracy theories, the human stupidity... It's heartbreaking. Fortunately, we're a close enough, strong enough family that it doesn't affect us. That's what I tell my children: the important thing is the people you love. You don't care about the others.
For her part, her little sister Tiphaine is more neutral. Speaking to Gala journalists, she showed a certain lack of interest, particularly in social networks which, in her opinion, are a source of lies and false information. She told Gala:
We discovered this series project at the same time as the public. I just hope that the story will be faithful to reality and will not fuel fantasies.
This article has been translated from Voici.
Read more:
⋙ Brigitte Macron: The French First Lady's evolution, from her early days to today
⋙ Brigitte Macron's daughter reacts to transphobic rumours about her mother: 'I'm worried'
⋙ Emmanuel Macron's mother talks about her mature daughter-in-law Brigitte Macron
Source used:
Gala: INTERVIEW – Brigitte Macron, ses filles Tiphaine et Laurence Auzière se confient : “Notre mère est à la fois solaire et solitaire !”