In August 2023, Brian Molko of Placebo faced a lawsuit from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after he referred to her as a "piece of shit, fascist, racist" during the Sonic Park festival that summer.

Following an investigation by prosecutors in Turin, Molko is now being charged with defamation for "contempt of the institutions," according to the Italian newspaper La Stampa. This offense, which targets insults aimed at the Italian government, parliament, courts, or army, could result in a fine of up to €5,000 and a direct summons to trial.

During the Stupinigi Sonic Park, the Placebo lead singer Brian Molko calls PM Giorgia Meloni 'racist, fascist', concluding 'fuck you'.

July 11, 2023 pic.twitter.com/eqmJLcH4Qp

— Crazy Ass Moments in Italian Politics 🇮🇹 (@CrazyItalianPol) July 12, 2023

Meloni leads the nationalist Brothers of Italy party and the hard-right coalition that came to power in 2022. It is widely considered to be Italy's most right-wing government since Benito Mussolini's rule during World War II. Under her leadership, the government has ordered municipalities to halt the registration of same-sex parents, targeted migrants and asylum seekers and appointed loyalists from the Brothers of Italy to key positions in the public broadcaster, as reported in a number of New York Times articles.

Meanwhile, the band recently released their documentary Placebo: This Search For Meaning. Directed by BAFTA winner Oscar Sansom, the film includes intimate interviews with the band, along with CCTV-style contributions from celebrity fans such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Yungblud, Garbage’s Shirley Manson, and IDLES’ Joe Talbot. It also showcases live performances of songs from their 2022 album Never Let Me Go.