Placebo’s Brian Molko. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images.
Italian authorities are investigating Brian Molko, frontman of the British rock group Placebo, for “public defamation of the republic” after onstage comments criticizing Giorgia Meloni, the far-right prime minister of Italy.
Molko called Meloni a “piece of shit, fascist racist” during a performance at the Sonic Park festival on the outskirts of Turin last week. “Giorgia Meloni — pezzo di merda, fascista, razzista,” he can be heard saying in fan footage of the show. “Vaffanculo,” he finishes, using the local parlance for “go fuck yourself.”
Meloni’s record includes anti-immigrant rhetoric, particularly directed at Muslims and members of other religious and ethnic minorities, per Human Rights Watch. She has also advocated against what she refers to as the “LGBT lobby,” invoking the Fascist-era slogan “God, motherland, and family” to argue against same-sex marriage, adoption by gay couples, sex education in schools, and stricter laws protecting Italy’s queer community from hate crimes.
Today (July 18), The Guardian reports that Italian prosecutors are investigating Molko for violating the country’s law against public defamation of the republic. The crime carries a fine of up to 5,000 euros. Turin prosecutors did not immediately respond to The Guardian’s request for confirmation of their investigation into Molko. The FADER has reached out to representatives of Placebo for further comment.