When is humour and satire defamatory?
Case Report: Sir Elton John v Guardian News & Media Limited On 12 December 2008, Mr Justice Tugendhat handed down his judgment in this case. Sir Elton John had sued Guardian News & Media Limited, which publishes The Guardian, for libel. The claim related to a “spoof” diary which appeared in the “Weekend” section of The Guardian on Saturday, 5 July 2008. The spoof diary entry referred to the White Tie & Tiara Ball which is organised on an annual basis by Sir Elton John for the benefit of the Elton John AIDS foundation (“EJAF”). The Ball is generally featured in OK! magazine. The key paragraph in the spoof diary entry was as follows: “Naturally, everyone could afford just to hand over the money if they gave that much of a toss about AIDS research – as could the sponsors. But we like to give guests a preposterously lavish evening, because they’re the kind of people who wouldn’t turn up for anything less. They fork out small fortunes for new dresses and so on, the sponsors blow hundreds of
