An unnamed British celebrity fighting to block publication of sexual misconduct allegations could soon be named after failing to meet an appeal deadline in London’s High Court, Page Six reported.
Missed Court Deadline
The man had until 4:30 p.m. Monday to file his appeal. He missed the cutoff, leaving him anonymous only until defendants The Guardian and ITN choose to publish his name, according to the Standard.
Attorneys for the media outlets previously told the court that they intend to report on the man’s alleged abuse of power and position as a celebrity to contact and forge relationships with young women and teenagers to try to have sex with them.
The man has denied the allegations against him. He first denied them in May 2022 when The Guardian initially approached him.
Justice Rejects Injunction to Protect Celebrity Privacy
Since the initial contact, The Guardian and ITN conducted an investigation involving more than 100 people and gathering 30 sources who shared emails, messages, and documents relating to the claims.
In late October, the celebrity attempted to block the outlets from releasing articles. His lawyer argued that publication would violate his privacy rights and that it was highly likely
his client would attempt suicide.
On Tuesday, November 3, Justice Matthew Nicklin rejected the man’s request for an injunction, ruling that permanently blocking the reports would be an excessive restriction on press freedom, as reported by Complex.
Justice Nicklin described the case as difficult and important, adding that a permanent ban would have been an exceptionally serious restriction upon freedom of expression.
During court proceedings, the celebrity’s attorney, Sara Mansoori KC, detailed the man’s psychiatric difficulties. The claimant has attempted suicide twice as a result of these matters, been hospitalised for months, been the subject of involuntary detention and been examined by multiple, now more than 10, doctors,
Mansoori stated.
The man was previously admitted to a psychiatric hospital after receiving letters from the outlets in May with nearly 300 points about alleged sexual misconduct, per court documents cited by Page Six. He attempted suicide again in July after briefly leaving the hospital.
What Remains Unresolved
Justice Nicklin acknowledged the man’s serious psychiatric vulnerability and accepted that publication could increase his suicide risk, but determined the evidence did not establish that suicide was inevitable.
The judge also emphasized that his decision was not a ruling on whether the allegations were true. He noted that the court did not determine whether the allegations, or any of them, were true, and the dismissal of the claim does not amount to approval of any publication the defendants may decide to make.
Meanwhile, Gavin Millar KC, representing the media outlets, described their reporting as a wide-ranging and rigorous investigation. An attorney for ITN and The Guardian also argued that the women who spoke out have been traumatised by the claimant’s alleged conduct and have suffered mental health crises and mental illness as a result.
The man will remain anonymous until The Guardian and ITN release his name.
