A more thorough explanation:

Fair comment is a legal privilege that allows the media and the general public to express their opinions about public officials and public figures without fear of being sued for libel.

In the case of New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, the Supreme Court ruled that a public figure must prove that the person making the statement did so maliciously, with knowledge that the information was false or with reckless disregard for the truth.

However, if the person making the statement honestly believes that the information is true, they can use fair comment as a defense in a libel suit, even if the information is later proven to be false.

For example, if a journalist writes an opinion piece criticizing a politician's policies, the politician cannot sue for libel simply because they disagree with the journalist's opinion. As long as the journalist honestly believes their opinion to be true and is not acting maliciously, they are protected by fair comment.

Another example would be if a member of the public posts a negative review of a celebrity's performance on social media. As long as the review is an honest expression of their opinion and not made with malicious intent, the person is protected by fair comment.

In summary, fair comment is a legal protection that allows individuals to express their opinions about public figures without fear of being sued for libel, as long as they are not acting maliciously and honestly believe their statements to be true.