Placebo lead singer Brian Molko has been charged with defamation in Italy for comments he made in July 2023 about right-wing Italian Prime Minster Giorgia Meloni.

According to the Italian newspaper La Stampa, the justice ministry has allowed prosecutors to move forward on charges of “contempt of the institutions” after Molko called the prime minister a “fascist, racist piece of shit” while playing a festival in Turin.

Defaming the Italian government, parliament, courts, or army carries a fine of up to €5,000 and a direct summons to trial. There is typically a possibility of three years in prison, but Justice Minister Carlo Nordio said it’s highly unlikely Molko will receive a sentence, according to The Guardian.

Meloni originally sued Molko in August 2023 after he made the inflammatory comments during Placebo’s set at the Sonic Park Stupinigi festival. She leads the nationalist political party Brothers of Italy while also serving as...