Placebo lead singer Brian Molko is the target of a defamation lawsuit filed by Italian Prime Minster Giorgia Meloni after making inflammatory comments about the right-wing leader during the band’s set at the Sonic Park Stupinigi festival in Turin on July 11th.
Italian newspaper La Stampa reported on Tuesday that Molko had been cited for calling Meloni a “fascist,” “piece of shit,” and “racist” amidst Placebo’s festival performance, which launched an investigation in regards to the country’s “contempt of the institutions” laws. Variety notes that any critic who “publicly defames the Republic” can incur a fine of 5,000 euros.
Meloni is the highest-ranking member of the far-right political party Brothers of Italy. She was elected as the country’s first female prime minister in October 2022 and ran on a strict anti-immigration and anti-LGBTQ+ platform. According to The Daily Beast, the prime minister has already gained a litigious reputation after filing two defamation lawsuits within her first month of office: the first was directed at two Italian journalists for “aggravated criminal defamation,” while the latter singled out Gomorrah author Roberto Saviano for calling Meloni a “bastard” for her xenophobic policies.
Despite the tense legal situation, Placebo were able to return to Italy for their previously scheduled August 1st concert in Sassari, Sardinia without issue.
The band still have a few international dates remaining on their 2023 tour, which supports their most recent LP, 2022’s Never Let Me Go. The global trek marks the British group’s first live circuit in nine years. Check for tickets and deals to all of their upcoming shows via Viagogo.
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