Latest news with #BrianMolko
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Placebo's Brian Molko Charged with Defamation After Calling Italian Prime Minister a 'Fascist'
The post Placebo's Brian Molko Charged with Defamation After Calling Italian Prime Minister a 'Fascist' appeared first on Consequence. Placebo lead singer Brian Molko has been charged with defamation for comments he made in July 2023 about right-wing Italian Prime Minster Giorgia Meloni. Per the Italian newspaper La Stampa, the justice ministry has allowed prosecutors to move forward on charges of 'contempt of the institutions' after Molko called the prime minister a 'fascist, racist piece of shit' while playing a festival in Turin. Defaming the Italian government, parliament, courts, or army carries a fine of up to €5,000 (or $5,240) and a direct summons to trial. There is typically a possibility of three years in prison, but Justice Minister Carlo Nordio said it's highly unlikely Molko will receive a sentence, according to The Guardian. Meloni originally sued Molko in August 2023 after he made the inflammatory comments during Placebo's set at the Sonic Park Stupinigi festival. She leads the nationalist political party Brothers of Italy while also serving as president of the hard-right European Conservatives and Reformists Party. While campaigning for election as Italy's first female prime minister in October 2022, Meloni ran on a strict anti-immigration and anti-LGBTQ+ platform. Under her leadership, the government has been considered the country's most right-wing since Benito Mussolini during World War II. In September, the granddaughter of Benito Mussolini, Rachele Mussolini, left the Brothers of Italy party because it was 'too right-wing.' A few months later, Meloni joined European far-right figures like French nationalist Éric Zemmour and Reform Party leader Nigel Farage at the inauguration of Donald Trump. Placebo's Brian Molko Charged with Defamation After Calling Italian Prime Minister a 'Fascist' Eddie Fu Popular Posts Dan Aykroyd and Bill Hader Will Be Absent From SNL's 50th Anniversary Special: Report Post Malone Fronts Nirvana Reunion at SNL 50th Anniversary Concert: Watch Kanye West and Bianca Censori Getting Divorced: Report Ben Folds Resigns from Advisory Position at Kennedy Center Lady Gaga Sings "Dick in a Box" in Epic Lonely Island Medley at SNL 50th Anniversary Concert: Watch Trump, Elon Musk Invited to SNL 50 Anniversary Special: Report Subscribe to Consequence's email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
Sky News
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Placebo frontman Brian Molko charged with defamation of Italian PM Giorgia Meloni
Placebo frontman Brian Molko is being charged with defamation after launching insults at Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during a gig. Brian Molko launched into a rant in Italian about Ms Meloni, who leads the far-right Brothers of Italy party, on stage at the Sonic Park festival in Turin in July 2023. Speaking in front of around 5,000 fans, the frontman of the alternative rock band called the prime minister a "piece of s***" and described her as "fascist" and "racist". His remarks prompted cheers from the audience. Prosecutors in Turin officially opened an investigation into Molko for "contempt of the institutions" in August 2023. Reports in Italy say the justice ministry is now allowing prosecutors to move forward with legal proceedings. He could be fined up to €5,000 (£4,300) if convicted. Ms Meloni is no stranger to such court proceedings, having won a defamation lawsuit against journalist Roberto Saviano in 2023, who called her a "bastard" during a 2020 TV interview because of her anti-immigration policies. The far-right leader has been a divisive figure since gaining power in 2022, with one of her most recent controversial moves being the passing of a law making it .
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Placebo's Brian Molko Charged With Defamation for Calling Italian Prime Minister 'Fascist, Racist'
Placebo's Brian Molko, October 2022 (Sergione Infuso - Corbis/Getty Images) In August 2023, Placebo's Brian Molko was sued by Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni for calling her a 'piece of shit, fascist, racist' during that summer's Sonic Park festival. Now, after prosecutors in Turin opened an investigation into the claims, he's being charged with defamation for 'contempt of the institutions,' reports Italian newspaper La Stampa. That offense—defaming the Italian government, parliament, courts, or army—carries a fine of up to €5,000 ($5,240 USD) and is subject to direct summons to trial. Meloni spearheads the nationalist Brothers of Italy party, as well as the hard-right coalition voted into power in 2022. It's largely considered to be Italy's most rightwing government since Benito Mussolini's ruling during the World War II. Under Meloni's leadership, Italy's government has ordered municipalities to stop registering same-sex parents, vilified migrants and asylum seekers, and appointed Brothers of Italy loyalists to top positions in the public broadcaster, according to several New York Times articles. Pitchfork has reached out to Placebo's representatives for additional information and comment. Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
