Georgia Meloni: Journalist asked to pay Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni €5,000 (Rs 4.60 lakh) for mocking her height, ‘body shaming’ | Parami News

According to ANSA news agency and some local media, the Milan court has ordered reporter Giulia Cortese to pay Italian PM salary Georgia Meloni €5,000 (USD 5,465) penalty for damages she mocked her in social media posts. Cortese was also accused of body shaming Meloni for her remarks about her height.

The legal action arose from a disagreement on social media between Meloni, then leader of the italian brothers Opposition and Cortes. The journalist posted a picture of Meloni with an image of the late fascist head Benito Mussolini behind him. In response to one tweet by Cortez “Don’t frighten me Georgia meloni balls you are only 4 feet tall after all I can’t even see you.”

Different media websites indicate different heights for Meloni- as low as 1.58m and as high as 1.63m.

Cortes may appeal the decision if he chooses to do so. However, according to lawyers representing Ms Meloni any money given to charity will be deducted from any compensation received by the Prime Minister.

Reporters Without Borders noted the number of lawsuits against journalists in Italy among other factors that have dropped it down to 46th place in World Press Freedom Index 2024.

She is no stranger to legal actions against journalists filed by Maleni either though. Last year a Rome court fined her one thousand euros plus costs following a television insult by writer Roberto Saviano who criticized her for advocating tough responses against illegal immigrants.

In May, journalists at Italian state broadcaster RAI went on strike over what they described as “suffocating control” of the government led by Meloni.

As per opinion of institution