Placebo’s Brian Molko has formally been charged today over comments he made in 2023 about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, according to local media.
The Scottish-American frontman of the British band has been charged with defamation after calling the right-wing leader a “fascist” and a “racist”.
Molko also called the prime minister a “piece of shit” on-stage in front of 10,000 people at Sonic Park Festival in Turin in July 2023.
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After a lengthy process, Italy’s Ministry of Justice gave the green light for the case to proceed on Tuesday, according to La Stampa.
The publication says Molko’s “crime in question is subject to direct summons to trial”.
The country takes defamation very seriously, with some strict legislation in place.
In Italy, anyone who “publicly defames the Republic” – including the government, parliament and the army – faces possible fines of €1000-€5000 ($1650-$8200).
While, there is also a possible three-year prison sentence possible for a conviction of defamation, the justice minister’s spokesperson believes this will be unlikely for Molko.
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Meloni, who was first elected to office in October 2022, has divisive political views, which include an anti-immigration policies and plans to limit rights for the LGBTQI+ community.
The 52-year-old rock star’s public criticism of the politician at Stupinigi was captured on video by fans, many of whom can be heard cheering and clapping, before being uploaded across social media.
An investigation into possible defamation and “contempt of the institution” from Molko was first opened by Turin prosecutors in response to a complaint made by police at the festival.
In March 2024 it was reported that the case had been delayed as prosecutors worked “to determine Molko’s domicile”, as he lives in London.
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Legends of the music world, then and now
Placebo, who are known for the hits including Every You Every Me and Special Needs, are yet to publicly comment on the developments.
This isn’t the first time an artist has found themselves at risk of legal action as a result of criticising the country’s leader.
Italian author and activist Roberto Saviano, who inspired the popular HBO Max series Gomorrah, is in the midst of a defamation lawsuit being brought against him by Meloni.
The claims came about after Saviano called her “a b—-” while blasting her stance on migrants.
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