A Milan court has ordered a journalist to pay Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni 5,000 euros ($5,465) in damages for mocking her on social media, according to news agency ANSA and other local media on Thursday.
The journalist, Giulia Cortese, was also given a suspended fine of 1,200 euros for a jibe on X in October 2021 about Meloni’s height that was defined as “body-shaming”.
Meloni filed legal action against Cortese after the two ladies battled on social media.
Meloni, whose far-right Brothers of Italy party was in opposition at the time, was outraged when Cortese released a posed portrait of her with the late fascist leader Benito Mussolini in the background.
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Cortese responded with further tweets including one that translates as “You don’t scare me, Giorgia Meloni. After all, you’re only 1.2 metres (4 feet) tall. I can’t even see you.”
Meloni’s height is listed as between 1.58 m and 1.63 m on various media sources.
Cortese can appeal the judgment, and Meloni’s lawyer said the prime minister will give any damages she gets to charity.