Laurence Fox must pay “at least six-figure damages” to two people who called him a pedophile on social media, the High Court has ruled.
The actor-turned-politician, now known as X, was sued by former Stonewall trustee Simon Blake and drag artist Crystal over a Twitter spat and won.
Mr Fox called Mr Blake and the former RuPaul's Drag Race contestant (real name Colin Seymour) “pedophiles” during an exchange over Sainsbury's' decision to mark October 2020 as Black History Month. I called it.
The Renewal Party founder, who had said at the time that he would boycott the supermarket, counter-sued the pair and broadcaster Nicola Thorpe over tweets accusing them of racism.
In a January ruling, Judge Collins Rice ruled in favor of Mr. Blake and Mr. Seymour, dismissing Mr. Fox's counterclaim.
The case returned to London's High Court on Friday to decide the outcome of the judge's ruling, including damages and an injunction.
Lorna Skinner KC, on behalf of Mr Blake and Mr Seymour, sought compensation for them and told the court: Avoid and avoid people. ”
The barrister said the pair should receive “at least a six-figure sum” from Mr Fox and said the suggestion they should receive only a “modest” award was “nonsense”.
She added: “We need to cross that threshold so that people can point to it and say, 'There's nothing to this.'”
Ms Skinner said the allegations had caused them “considerable upheaval”, adding in a written submission that the court “can take into account the pain, hurt and humiliation caused by defamatory publications”. .
In addition to damages, Mr. Skinner sought an order requiring Mr. Fox to publish a summary of the judge's decision on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
“What Mr. Fox has communicated to his followers about the plaintiffs' allegations is completely inaccurate,” she said in court.
“They are being given a narrative about this sentence that is completely untrue.”
Mr. Skinner also asked for an injunction to prevent Mr. Fox from making his case again, telling the court that Mr. Fox has been “really vitriolic with these plaintiffs.”
Patrick Green KC, speaking for Mr Fox, who was not present in court, said there was no need for the Lewis actor to publicize the sentencing decision on his social media.
In his written submission, he said: “This was the most high-profile defamation case of the year, with both the trial and the verdict receiving extensive media coverage…. None of the original publishers in this case were aware of the outcome, even if… There will be very few.”
The barrister added: “The outcome of this long-running case is literally no better known than it already is.”
Mr Green said the starting award for damages should be between £10,000 and £20,000, but Mr Fox's apology and lack of malice would “significantly reduce” the total.
He added: “The rhetorical nature of the comments became clear within an hour and the defendants issued their first apologies within a week…Mr Blake and Mr Seymour admitted their claims in the court's public judgment. The fact that he did so should already be convincing.” A person who reasonably stands by as the effect is erased.
“Only modest monetary compensation should be paid for any temporary doubts or vague doubts that may have existed momentarily in the minds of readers.”
“The statement was quickly retracted and an apology was issued. At the very least, it was clear to the public early on that the allegations were unfounded,” he added.
Green later said in court that Fox's defamation was “directly provoked” by the three of them sending posts that were “undoubtedly abusive and offensive.”
During his trial in London in November, Mr Fox said that since he was accused of being a racist, the number and quality of roles he was offered had “significantly decreased”.
But in a 41-page judgment earlier this year, Justice Collins Rice said it was “very likely” that their tweets had caused the current state of his acting career and other serious harm. He said he was deaf.
“Mr. Fox's labeling of Mr. Blake and Mr. Seymour as pedophiles was materially harmful and defamatory in the light of the evidence, probabilities and facts of this case,” Justice Collins Rice wrote in his judgment. “There is no basis for this,” he concluded.
“Mr. Fox has made no attempt to show that these allegations are true and has failed to assert facts within the terms of other defenses permitted by law.”
The hearing before Judge Collins Rice concluded on Friday, with a written decision expected at a later date.
