Placebo's Brian Molko faces defamation charges for criticizing Italian prime minister

Placebo frontman Brian Molko has been charged with defamation in Italy following comments made about Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni at Sonic Park festival in summer 2023.

Prosecutors in Turin have opened an investigation into claims of "contempt of the institutions" after Molko's remarks about Meloni at the event. The charge carries a maximum fine of €5,000 and requires a direct summons to trial.

The case stems from an incident where Molko made critical comments about the prime minister - calling her "“piece of shit, fascist, racist” - during Placebo's performance at the festival. Meloni, who leads the Brothers of Italy party and a right-wing coalition government that came to power in 2022, subsequently filed legal proceedings.

The charge specifically relates to defamation of Italian government institutions, parliament, courts, or army, which is considered a specific offence under Italian law.