Stephen Fry is suing two companies that organised the CogX tech festival after he fell from the stage in 2023, breaking his hip and suffering multiple fractures. High court documents reveal the actor and presenter is seeking damages of up to £100,000.
The incident occurred on 14 September 2023 at the O2 Arena, where Fry delivered a talk on artificial intelligence. He suffered a broken hip, right leg, pelvis and ribs after a six-foot drop onto concrete.
The claim, filed against CogX Festival Ltd and Blonstein Events, alleges negligence and breach of statutory duty. The documents state: “The incident was caused by the negligence … in failing to ensure that the stage and backstage area were safe, adequately lit and properly protected to prevent a fall from height.”
A spokesperson for CogX Festival Ltd said: “We are unable to comment while the legal process is ongoing, but we were all deeply concerned when Stephen had the accident … and we continue to send him our best wishes for a full recovery.”
A statement from Blonstein Events, whose director said the company had not yet been formally notified, expressed confidence in their defence: “No court proceedings have been served … If court proceedings are served both we and our insurers are confident that our defence will be successful as we were in no way responsible for this incident.”
Speaking about the fall last year, Fry told BBC Radio 2’s Claudia Winkleman: “I did my bow … turned to go off stage and didn’t realise that I was walking off a part of the stage where there was nothing.” He praised the NHS for his treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, calling the health service “extraordinary”.
