Paris, France – A court in Paris convicted ten people of online harassment against France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron. The verdict highlights the seriousness of cyberbullying targeting public figures.
According to the Associated Press, the sentences ranged from mandatory cyberbullying awareness training programs to suspended prison terms of up to eight months.
Details of the verdict and the defendants
The Guardian reported that the ten defendants include six men and two women, aged between 41 and 60. Some had limited social media presence, while others had a larger following, which contributed to the spread of the offensive comments.
The charges included making malicious comments about Brigitte Macron’s gender and sexual orientation. Some also attempted to link the age difference between her and her husband, French President Emmanuel Macron, to false allegations of pedophilia.
The impact of the allegations on Brigitte Macron
The report indicated that the spread of these false claims is partly due to long-standing online discussions about her relationship with Emmanuel Macron. These discussions predate his presidency. Brigitte Macron is 24 years older than her husband. She met him when she was a French teacher at his school in Amiens.
Brigitte’s daughter also testified in court that the false online allegations had severely impacted her mother’s quality of life. She was forced to worry daily about her appearance and posture. This reflects the profound psychological effect of cyberbullying on public figures.
