Italian journalist fined €5,000 for ‘body shaming’ PM Giorgia Meloni

An Italian court in Milan has ordered journalist Giulia Cortese to pay €5,000 ($5,450) in damages to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for body shaming her on social media.

The court also imposed a suspended fine of €1,200 on Cortese for a separate post on X (formerly Twitter) regarding Meloni's height.

Cortese reacted to the sentence by stating, "Italy’s government has a serious problem with freedom of expression and journalistic dissent."

The legal battle began after a series of social media exchanges between Meloni and Cortese. Three years ago, Cortese published a doctored photo on X, depicting Meloni alongside the late fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. Meloni responded on Facebook, calling the image "uniquely grave" and announced her intention to pursue legal action.

Cortese countered with further tweets, including one that stated, "You don’t scare me, Giorgia Meloni. After all, you’re only 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall. I can’t even see you." This tweet led to her conviction for defamation due to "body shaming," while she was acquitted of the charge related to the Mussolini comparison.

Meloni's lawyer stated that the €5,000 in damages would be donated to charity. Cortese retains the right to appeal the sentence.

This incident is not the first time Meloni has taken legal action against journalists and writers. Last year, a Rome court fined best-selling author Roberto Saviano €1,000 plus legal expenses for insulting Meloni on television in 2021 over her strict stance on illegal immigration.