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.