Graham Norton has emerged victorious in a legal battle to unmask the individual behind a Facebook page that he alleges spent years disseminating false and harassing claims about him and his loved ones. The television presenter successfully petitioned a US court to compel Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to disclose information that could identify the operator of the page known as The Westminster Wire, which he claims has been used to orchestrate a sustained campaign of abuse. The page currently boasts 8,900 followers.
The broadcaster sought this information to initiate legal proceedings in England against the person responsible for the posts. According to filings obtained by the Irish Independent, the Facebook page allegedly published multiple posts daily containing false assertions about Norton, including accusations of racist conduct and fabricated reports concerning his personal life and health. Norton informed the court that the content has been 'deeply upsetting' not only to him but also to those closest to him.
Among the most distressing incidents, as reported by the Irish Independent, was his 94-year-old mother encountering posts falsely claiming she had passed away. The star also mentioned that friends had reached out after seeing false reports about his and his husband's health, repeatedly forcing him to reassure people that the claims were untrue. He told the court he had spent considerable time addressing concerns from family members, friends, and acquaintances who had been exposed to the material.
The legal application was filed in the US because Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is headquartered in California. The court has now granted the request, meaning Meta will be required to provide information capable of identifying the person behind the account. This ruling clears the path for Norton to proceed with the next phase of his legal action in England.
While public figures often face criticism online, Norton argued that the material published by the page went far beyond commentary and instead constituted a deliberate and ongoing campaign of harassment based on falsehoods. The case underscores the growing willingness of celebrities and public figures to use the courts to challenge anonymous online accounts accused of spreading misinformation and defamatory claims.
Norton, one of Britain's most popular broadcasters, has hosted some of television's biggest entertainment programs over a career spanning decades, making the alleged campaign particularly visible to both fans and those close to him. Now, after securing the court order, he is one step closer to discovering who was behind it.
Metro has contacted representatives of Graham Norton for comment.
