Placebo’s Brian Molko is facing defamation charges for comments he made about the Italian prime minister.
According to Louder, Molko was charged with defamation for his words about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at a 2023 festival. Placebo played at Italy’s Sonic Park festival, where Molko allegedly called Meloni a ‘piece of sh*t, fascist, racist,’ and a ‘Nazi.’
An investigation started in 2023 after a complaint was filed. This week, the Italian newspaper La Stampa reported that Molko faces charges for ‘contempt of the institutions.’
Pitchfork notes that defaming the Italian government, parliament, courts, or army can result in a fine of about $5,240.
In other defamation cases in Italy, people can go to prison for up to three years. However, a spokesperson for Justice Minister Carlo Nordio said it’s unlikely Molko will be sent to prison.
Members of Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party, connected to Italy’s neo-fascist movement, have asked Molko to take back his words and apologize.
Lawmaker Augusta Montaruli commented on the case, “We cannot let an international event that attracts so many people (to Italy) be ruined by filthy words which, amidst a general silence, aim to attack the institutions of the republic.”
This isn’t the first time Meloni has faced defamation claims. “Meloni leads the nationalist Brothers of Italy party and the hard-right coalition that has led the country since 2022 and pursued hardline policies on immigration, abortion, and same-sex parenting,” The Guardian said of the prime minister.
During her time in office, Meloni has faced many defamation lawsuits. The Guardian reported that her first year had the highest number of lawsuits against public participation.
The HuffPost mentioned that Italian writer Robert Saviano called Meloni a ‘b*stard’ on TV in 2020 before she became prime minister. In 2023, Saviano was ordered to pay Meloni about $1,045.
The outlet reported that Meloni filed a complaint against historian Luciano Canfora, who called her a ‘neo-Nazi.’ The case was closed after the complaint was withdrawn.
