18-02-2025
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.
