Court Dismisses Noel Clarke's A370M Libel Case Against The Guardian
Actor Noel Clarke lost his A370M libel case against The Guardian over a sexual misconduct investigation. Mrs Justice Steyn dismissed the claim, finding Clarke not credible, incurring significant legal costs.
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Overview
- Noel Clarke lost his libel case against The Guardian newspaper, which he initiated over their sexual misconduct investigation, seeking A370 million in damages.
- Mrs Justice Steyn dismissed the case, stating that she found Noel Clarke to be neither a credible nor a reliable witness during the proceedings.
- Clarke's legal team had argued he was the victim of an unlawful conspiracy, but this claim was rejected by the court.
- The Guardian's editor welcomed the court's decision, hailing it as a deserved victory for women who had suffered, validating their careful investigation.
- As a result of losing the libel case, Noel Clarke now faces a substantial legal bill and will likely be responsible for the bulk of The Guardian's legal costs.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing the definitive nature of the libel case outcome, validating The Guardian's "bombshell" reporting. They connect Clarke's loss to a broader industry "reckoning" over misconduct, using language that underscores the judgment's significance and its implications for accountability within the entertainment sector.
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FAQ
The main allegations included verbal abuse, bullying, sexual harassment, unwanted sexual contact, kissing, touching or groping, sexually inappropriate behavior, taking and sharing explicit pictures and videos without consent, including secretly filming a young actor's nude audition.
Noel Clarke lost the libel case; Mrs Justice Steyn dismissed it, finding Clarke not credible or reliable and ruling in favor of The Guardian, which successfully established truth and public interest defenses.
The Guardian defended their reporting by relying on evidence from 29 witnesses who testified about Clarke's misconduct. The court found that the allegations were substantially true and that the publication was in the public interest.
Following the allegations, BAFTA suspended Clarke's membership and his Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award, ITV halted broadcasts of his work, and his representation and future production involvement were withdrawn.
Noel Clarke incurred significant legal costs and is likely responsible for most of The Guardian's legal expenses as a result of losing the case.
History
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