"We lived in a small town where everyone knew everything." Emmanuel Macron's stepdaughter spoke for the first time about her mother's scandalous affair with the French president

The stepdaughter of French President Emmanuel Macron, Brigitte Macron’s daughter from her first marriage, Tiphaine Ozier, spoke for the first time in an interview with the local publication Paris Match about her mother’s “forbidden” relationship, which, according to her, “hurt” her even after many years.

Macron met his future wife at La Providence school, where he studied - she was his teacher. At the same time, her eldest daughter Laurence, with whom he was close friends (but they did not have a romantic relationship), studied in the same class with him. Later they began an affair, which shocked the inhabitants of the small town of Amiens, where they lived. This story seriously affected the reputation of Macron's parents, who were doctors. They learned about their son’s affair from friends, although before that they were sure that he was dating Brigitte Laurence’s daughter. They were very unhappy - the mother of the future president of France demanded that the teacher leave him alone and let him live his life: after all, Brigitte herself, being the wife of a banker and the mother of three children, had already established herself in life. Brigitte's husband was also furious when he learned of his wife's affair with their daughter's classmate and left home, leaving her to explain the difficult situation to their children. The couple filed for divorce only in 2006. In 2019, Brigitte’s first husband died; he was 68 years old.

Brigitte Tiefen Ozier's youngest daughter, now a lawyer and social activist, was 10 years old when she learned that her mother was dating a student 25 years younger than her. It was very difficult for the children - everyone around was discussing her mother’s “forbidden relationship.” The magazine writes that "young Emmanuel often rang the Ozier doorbell and the rumors grew. The rumors influenced the three Ozier children."

"I learned a lot about human nature. I know that in such moments you need to focus on the main thing and move forward, not taking into account criticism. Attacks, slander, gossip. The era of social networks had not yet arrived, but we lived in a small provincial town. Everyone knew everything,” Tiefen recalls.

She also deeply regrets that her father, Andre-Louis Ozier, was forced to leave home in 1994 and face humiliation. "Family separation can be both a grief and an opportunity. I have a beloved father and stepfather," she said.

Tiefen also said she was upset by rumors that her mother was actually born a man - despite the fact that last year the first lady of France won a lawsuit against the journalist who spread this information, they cannot do anything about the fact that this continues to be discussed on social networks. “I worry about society when I hear rumors on social media that my mother is a man,” Tiefen says.

Emanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron, whose romance lasted for many years, got married in 2007, a year after Brigitte’s official divorce from her husband. In 2017, Macron took over as head of state, becoming the youngest French president in history (at that time he was 40 years old).