An unnamed male celebrity threatened to attempt suicide for a third time if publications expose his identity and the multiple sexual misconduct allegations against him.
The celebrity, referred to as PPT, is currently accused 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.”
On Tuesday, the celebrity’s legal team asked London’s High Court for an injunction to block articles from being published, arguing that their client would be “highly likely” to attempt suicide if they were released, BBC reported.
The attorney representing PPT, Sara Mansoori KC, told the court her client attempted suicide twice after he received notice from publications Guardian News Media and ITN, requesting a comment on the allegations. PPT was released from the hospital after the first attempt and soon tried again.
“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,” Mansoori told the court, adding that PPT “has no intention of returning to public life.”
His legal team claimed their client’s third suicide attempt would be a result of concern about “trial by media” rather than wrongdoing.
Also during the hearing, the anonymous male vehemently denied the accusations of sexual misconduct against him.
However, multiple UK news organizations, including GNM and ITN, argued in court that they have the right to publish articles about the misconduct claims with the man’s identity.
The publications also argued there is no legitimate basis “to restrain the publication of public interest journalism” and the celebrity’s “suicide risk” could be lowered.
According to a medical report, the celebrity could undergo treatment that would improve his mental health significantly but not completely mitigate the risk, per BBC.
However, Mansoori said the only reason why the published articles wouldn’t be fatal is that her client would be “locked up and prevented from his desire to end his life.”
“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 told the court.
Meanwhile, the attorney representing ITN and GNM, Gavin Millar, said the news outlets have gathered “numerous allegations” throughout the “wide-ranging and rigorous investigation,” emphasizing that journalists interviewed 100 people.
Miller also argued that many of the women who have come forward “have been traumatized by the claimant’s alleged conduct and have suffered mental health crises and mental illness as a result.”
Mr. Justice Nicklin, the judge in the case, agreed there was public interest in the case, saying it was “a difficult and important” one.
Nicklin confirmed he couldn’t verify the allegations against the celebrity, and that he was only responsible for determining whether the claims could be published by ITN and GMN.
The judge also urged the public to refrain from speculating about the celebrity’s identity.
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