Graham Norton has secured a legal victory in his battle to uncover the identity of a person he accuses of running a Facebook page that posted years of false and harassing claims about him and his family. The television presenter successfully applied to a US court for an order requiring Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to hand over information that could identify the operator of a page called The Westminster Wire.
Campaign of Abuse
According to legal filings obtained by the Irish Independent, the page allegedly published multiple posts daily containing false claims about Norton, including accusations of racist behaviour and fabricated reports about his personal life and health. Norton told the court the content had been “deeply upsetting” not only to him but also to those closest to him.
Among the most distressing incidents, his 94-year-old mother encountered posts falsely claiming she had died. Friends also contacted him after seeing false reports about his and his husband’s health, forcing him to repeatedly reassure people that the claims were untrue. He said he spent considerable time addressing concerns from family members, friends, and acquaintances exposed to the content.
Legal Action
The application was filed in the US because Meta is headquartered in California. The court has now granted the request, meaning Meta must provide information capable of identifying the person behind the account. The ruling clears the way for Norton to begin the next stage of his legal action in England.
While public figures often face online criticism, Norton argued the material went far beyond commentary and amounted to a deliberate, ongoing campaign of harassment based on falsehoods. The case highlights the growing willingness of celebrities to use courts to challenge anonymous online accounts accused of spreading misinformation and defamatory claims.
Norton, one of Britain’s most popular broadcasters, has hosted major entertainment programmes for decades. After securing the court order, he is one step closer to discovering who was behind the page, which currently has 8,900 followers. Metro has contacted representatives of Graham Norton for comment.
