A western Sydney teenager suing three media outlets for allegedly mocking him for sporting a "hair-larious" mullet has suffered a setback in his defamation case, after a judge took the scissors to major parts of his claim.

Ali Ziggi Mosslmani, who styles himself "Ziggy", was catapulted to internet stardom after he was photographed at an 18th birthday party in Hurstville sporting his now-famous mane.

Sydney teen Ali Ziggi Mosslmani sues media outlets over mullet photo.

He is suing Daily Mail Australia, The Daily Telegraph and KIIS radio in the NSW District Court for a series of articles online and in print that reproduced the image along with a selection of memes.

Judge Judith Gibson has already questioned whether the case has backfired by attracting a wave of unwanted publicity – a phenomenon dubbed "the Streisand effect" after US entertainer Barbra Streisand came under increased scrutiny following efforts to suppress photos of her Malibu mansion.