Noel Clarke loses libel case against The Guardian
British actor Noel Clarke has lost his libel case against the publication The Guardian.
In 2021, Clarke was the subject of seven articles and a podcast by The Guardian regarding allegations of sexual misconduct. One specific article, published in April 2021, alleged that 20 women had accused Clarke of acting inappropriately in a professional capacity.
In the libel case, Clarke had been seeking £70 million in damages from the publication and claimed the allegations published by The Guardian were false. The case was heard in court from March to April earlier this year.
However, on August 22nd, Mrs Justine Stein denied Clarke’s claim in her judgement, and said The Guardian “succeeded in establishing both truth and public interest defences to the libel claim”.
Steyn also said: “I have accepted some of Mr Clarke’s evidence… but overall I find that he was not a credible or reliable witness.”
The Guardian’s editor-in-chief Katharine Viner said the result is “a deserved victory for those women who suffered because of the behaviour of Noel Clarke”. She continued: “Going to court is difficult and stressful, yet more than 20 women agreed to testify in the High Court, refusing to be bullied or intimidated.
Viner added: “This is also a landmark judgment for Guardian journalism, and for investigative journalism in Britain… The judgment is clear that our investigation was thorough and fair, a template for public interest journalism.”
Following the ruling, Clarke maintained that he considers The Guardian’s reporting in the seven articles and podcast as “inaccurate and damaging”.
“I have never claimed to be perfect,” Clarke added. “But I am not the person described in these articles. Overnight I lost everything.”
Clarke, who appeared in various hit programmes and films such as Doctor Who, Kidulthood, and Bulletproof, hasn’t worked as an actor since the allegations were aired four years ago.
After the allegations surfaced, Bafta revoked the actor’s membership and also took back an honorary award they gave to Clarke.
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