Anonymous celebrity loses bid to block misconduct reports

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 3 Nov, 17:00 · Archive

A UK court has denied an unidentified celebrity's request to block news outlets from publishing allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power.

An unidentified celebrity lost a court bid on Tuesday to prevent Independent Television News and Guardian News and Media from publishing allegations against him. The man denies wrongdoing, according to his lawyer Sara Mansoori, who told the High Court that he had made two suicide attempts after receiving letters from the outlets seeking his response to the allegations. She said he had been examined by more than ten doctors in relation to his mental health.

The allegations concern the man's 'abuse of power and status' and sexual misconduct involving young women. According to the court's summary, he is alleged to have used his status and influence as a well-known public figure to establish contact with young women, some considerably younger than him, and to have engaged or sought to engage in seriously inappropriate conduct. Some of the alleged conduct could amount to criminal offences if proven.

Gavin Millar, representing the media companies, said the allegations were gathered after 'a wide-ranging and rigorous investigation' and that there was a 'strong' public interest in publishing them. Justice Matthew Nicklin dismissed the injunction bid, saying such a measure would constitute 'an exceptionally serious interference' with the rights of the media companies. The case has drawn widespread attention in Britain because it highlights questions over public figures' right to privacy and what media can report on the basis of public interest.

How it is being reported

• An anonymous celebrity loses UK court bid to block reports of alleged sexual misconductA U.K. court has denied an unidentified celebrity's request to block news outlets from publishing allegations against him.News4Jax · 3 Nov, 16:34
• An anonymous celebrity loses UK court bid to block reports of alleged sexual misconductA U.K. court has denied an unidentified celebrity's request to block news outlets from publishing allegations against him.Clickorlando · 3 Nov, 16:34

In this story: Independent Television News · Guardian News and Media · Sara Mansoori · Gavin Millar · Justice Matthew Nicklin · United Kingdom

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