Italian news agency ANSA and other local media reported that a Milan court ordered a journalist to pay Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni damages of €5,000 ($5,465) for making fun of her height in a social media post.

Giulia Cortese, the journalist, also received a suspended fine of €1,200 for what was described as "bodyshaming" remarks she made against Meloni on X in October 2021.

Following a confrontation between the two ladies on social media, Meloni filed a lawsuit against Cortese.

When Cortese released a Photoshopped image of Meloni featuring the late fascist leader Benito Mussolini in the backdrop, Meloni—whose far-right Brothers of Italy party was in the opposition at the time— took offense.

Cortese added more tweets including one that says, "You don't scare me, Giorgia Meloni. After all, you're only 1.2 metres (4 feet) tall. I can't even see you."

Some media outlets state that Meloni's height ranges from 1.58 m to 1.63 m.

Read more: EU Press freedom: Italy's PM takes anti-Mafia journalist to trial

Cortese has the option to challenge the sentence, and Meloni's attorney stated that the prime minister would give any damages she ultimately wins to charitable organizations.

Reporters Without Borders reported a significant number of lawsuits filed against journalists this year, dropping Italy five spots to 46th in its 2024 World Press Freedom Index.

Meloni has a history of suing journalists. Best-selling novelist Roberto Saviano was fined €1,000 plus legal costs by a Rome court last year for insulting the PM over her tough position on illegal immigration on television in 2021.

In May, journalists at the Italian public broadcaster RAI went on strike to express their disapproval of Meloni's government's "suffocating control" over their work.