Influencer sues Guardian for defamation in Mumford & Sons review
Andy Ngo, an American social media influencer and journalist, has filed a High Court claim against Guardian News & Media (GNM) over allegations about his political leanings in a recent article.
The 200-word review was published in March in The Observer, when GNM still owned the Sunday title. The Observer was taken over shortly afterwards by news start-up Tortoise Media. The Telegraph is not reproducing the part of the text believed to be allegedly defamatory.
The scathing two-star review described Mumford & Sons' latest album Rushmere as 'utterly insipid balladry', adding that the mood was 'self-pitying and self-justifying'.
The article referred to the fact that the folk rock band have reverted to being a trio following the departure of guitarist and banjo player Winston Marshall in 2021.
Mr Marshall, the son of Sir Paul Marshall, the co-founder of GB News, left the band in a storm of controversy after he praised Mr Ngo's book Unmasked, a critical account of the Left-wing Antifa movement.
In a post to Mr Ngo on social media, Mr Marshall wrote: 'Congratulations. Finally had the time to read your important book. You're a brave man.'
Following an outcry, Mr Marshall stepped back from the band saying he would 'examine my blind spots', before quitting just weeks later.
In a blog post, he wrote: 'The truth is that my commenting on a book that documents the extreme far-Left and their activities is in no way an endorsement of the equally repugnant far-Right.
'The truth is that reporting on extremism at the great risk of endangering oneself is unquestionably brave.'
Mr Ngo, who is represented by London-based Patron Law, is a senior editor at The Post Millennial, a Canadian news website.
He is an outspoken figure who has garnered controversy for his coverage of Antifa and Muslims.
Reposted by Elon Musk
The influencer, who lives in the UK, wrote an opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal in 2018 titled 'A visit to Islamic England'.
He has live-streamed coverage of rallies and protests to his 1.6 million followers on X.
Mr Ngo's political views and prominence on social media have brought him into contact with Elon Musk, who has reposted the influencer's videos.
In 2022, several high-profile Left-wing Twitter accounts were banned after Mr Ngo and other prominent figures urged Mr Musk to take action against the 'large number of Antifa accounts' operating on the site.
A Guardian spokesman said: 'This relates to a 190-word review published by the Observer in March.'
The lawsuit comes as the Guardian awaits a judgment in a separate defamation claim filed by Kidulthood actor Noel Clarke.
Mr Clarke is suing GNM for libel over seven articles and a podcast in which more than 20 women accused him of sexual misconduct. Mr Clarke denies the allegations.
GNM is defending its stories, with editor-in-chief Katharine Viner telling the court there was a 'very high public interest' in reporting the claims.
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