An unnamed male celebrity is fighting to keep sexual misconduct allegations out of the headlines, with his lawyers warning that identifying him could put his life at risk. The celebrity, identified in court as PPT, is seeking an injunction to stop news organizations from publishing their investigations. His legal team says he has already attempted suicide twice since learning about the planned reports.
The outlets are pushing back, arguing that their reporting serves the public interest and that women who have made allegations have also suffered serious harm. Now, London’s High Court must decide whether the reports can be published.
Celebrity’s Lawyers Say Publication Could Put His Life At Risk
According to the BBC, PPT’s legal team asked the court on Tuesday to block the articles, arguing that he would be “highly likely” to attempt suicide if they were published. The allegations accuse the celebrity of using “his power and position as a celebrity to contact and forge relationships with young women and teenagers to try to have sex with them.”
PPT vehemently denies the sexual misconduct accusations.
Celebrity’s Lawyer Says He Attempted Suicide Twice After Learning Of Investigations
His attorney, Sara Mansoori KC, told the court that he attempted suicide twice after Guardian News Media and ITN contacted him for comment about their investigations. According to Mansoori, he was discharged from the hospital following the first attempt before making a second attempt.
“The claimant has attempted suicide twice as a result of these matters, been hospitalized for months, been the subject of involuntary detention and been examined by multiple, now more than 10 doctors,” she told the court.
Mansoori also said PPT “has no intention of returning to public life.”
PPT’s lawyers argued that his risk of another suicide attempt stems from fears about “trial by media,” rather than being an indication of wrongdoing. The hearing also addressed whether medical treatment could reduce that risk enough for publication to go ahead.
According to the BBC’s account of a medical report, treatment could significantly improve the celebrity’s mental health, although it would not eliminate the risk entirely. Mansoori argued that preventing a fatal outcome following publication would require her client to be “locked up and prevented from his desire to end his life.”
She urged the court to take his medical history seriously. “This is not a case where an individual has spuriously raised ‘mental health’ concerns in the face of an impending publication that they do not wish to occur,” she said.
News Outlets Push To Publish Their Investigations
Guardian News Media and ITN opposed the request, arguing that there was no legitimate basis “to restrain the publication of public interest journalism.” The organizations also argued that measures could be taken to lower the celebrity’s suicide risk.
Representing the outlets, Gavin Millar said journalists had gathered “numerous allegations” during a “wide-ranging and rigorous investigation.” He told the court that their reporting involved interviews with 100 people.
Millar also highlighted the reported impact on women who had come forward, arguing that many “have been traumatized by the claimant’s alleged conduct and have suffered mental health crises and mental illness as a result.”
Judge Explains What The Court Will Decide
Mr. Justice Nicklin acknowledged the public interest involved, describing the case as “a difficult and important” one. But he also made clear that the hearing would not establish whether the sexual misconduct allegations were true.
His responsibility is to determine whether ITN and Guardian News Media can publish their reporting. That distinction matters because a decision about publication would not itself prove or disprove the accusations, which PPT denies.
With the celebrity’s identity remaining anonymous, Nicklin also urged the public to avoid speculation about who he might be.
