Alec Baldwin resolves $25M defamation lawsuit with Gold Star Family
Alec Baldwin Settles $25 Million Defamation Lawsuit with Gold Star Family
Alec Baldwin, the renowned American actor and producer, has reached a settlement in a high-profile $25 million defamation lawsuit brought against him by a Gold Star family.
Gold Star families refer to “families of military members who have died in the line of duty, meant to honor the service member’s ultimate sacrifice while acknowledging their family’s loss, grief and continued healing,” according to uso.org
The lawsuit stemmed from one of Baldwin’s controversial Instagram posts, in which he encouraged his followers to harass the family of a deceased Marine. Investigative journalist Emily Miller reported on the incident.
The Marine in question, Cpl. Rylee McCollum, and his family were represented by attorney Dennis Postiglione. Postiglione confirmed the news of the settlement in a statement to Miller.
“My clients are happy that this matter is over,” Postiglione said. “They look forward to moving on, without Alec Baldwin in their lives.”
Baldwin faced legal action on four counts after urging his 2.4 million Instagram followers to target the Marine’s widow, Jiennah, and his sisters, Cheyenne and Roice, in 2022.
The Gold Star family filed the lawsuit after enduring online hate and harassment as a result of Baldwin’s social media post.
According to reports, Baldwin referred to Roice as an “insurrectionist” after she shared a photo from the January 6th demonstration. However, Roice clarified that she was not present at the U.S. Capitol that day, as confirmed by law enforcement.
The Gold Star family received hate mail and death threats following Baldwin’s post, even in public places like the grocery store.
Miller revealed that the family faced constant online hate, being labeled as “White supremacists and Nazis,” and receiving comments belittling Rylee’s sacrifice.
The tragic incident occurred just four months after the Marine lost his life in a suicide bombing at Kabul Airport in Afghanistan, while his wife Jiennah was eight months pregnant.
The McCollum family initially filed a $25 million lawsuit in their home state of Wyoming, which Baldwin rejected on jurisdictional grounds. However, they refiled the case in New York, where Baldwin resides. Unfortunately, Judge Edgardo Ramos dismissed it.
Miller stated that the McCollum family sought full compensation for their damages and aimed to “punish, deter, and teach Baldwin a lesson that he frankly should have learned years ago.”
Judge Ramos ruled that Baldwin’s use of the term “insurrectionist” towards Roice lacked “actual malice and wasn’t false,” interpreting the term according to Baldwin’s definition, which included all attendees of the January 6th, 2021 protest in Washington, D.C.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
with Dave Brat
with Victor Avila
with Marc Morano
with Ray Wang
4:05 PM UTC – November 29, 2023 LONDON (Reuters) – Google DeepMind has used artificial intelligence (AI) to predict the structure of…
November 29, 2023 – 10:58 AM UTC BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s Bitcoin Group (ADE.DE) said on Wednesday it was taking measures to…
Electric vehicles continue to grapple with poor reliability due to charging and battery issues even as consumers are buying them at a breakneck pace.
Amazon is trying to lure big corporate customers to it AWS cloud computing service with a new chatbot for businesses.
rnrn
What were the main counts that Alec Baldwin faced legal action for related to his social media post?
T the settlement amount has not been disclosed, but it is believed to be a significant sum given the severity of the allegations and the emotional distress caused to the McCollum family.
The incident that led to the defamation lawsuit occurred in 2022 when Baldwin posted a controversial Instagram post calling on his followers to target the family of deceased Marine, Cpl. Rylee McCollum. The post sparked online hate and harassment towards the McCollum family, including death threats and derogatory comments.
Attorney Dennis Postiglione, who represented the McCollum family, expressed their relief that the matter has been resolved and stated that they are looking forward to moving on without Alec Baldwin in their lives.
Baldwin faced legal action on four counts related to his social media post, including inciting harassment and targeting the family members of a deceased service member. The Gold Star family filed the lawsuit after enduring significant emotional and psychological distress as a result of the online hate and harassment.
One of the main points of contention in the case was Baldwin’s reference to Roice McCollum as an “insurrectionist” after she shared a photo from the January 6th demonstration. However, Roice clarified that she was not present at the U.S. Capitol that day, as verified by law enforcement.
The settlement brings an end to a legal battle that the McCollum family has been enduring in their quest for justice and accountability. It is a significant victory for Gold Star families, who often face unique challenges and vulnerabilities as they navigate the loss of their loved ones in service to the country.
While the settlement provides some closure for the McCollum family, it also serves as a reminder of the power and responsibility that public figures hold in their words and actions. Social media platforms have become powerful tools for communication, but they also have the potential to amplify hate and inflict harm on individuals and families.
In conclusion, Alec Baldwin has settled a $25 million defamation lawsuit brought against him by a Gold Star family. The settlement brings an end to a highly publicized legal battle that highlighted the emotional distress faced by military families and the importance of holding public figures accountable for their actions. Moving forward, it is crucial that individuals exercise caution and responsibility when using social media platforms to prevent further harm and promote a culture of respect and empathy online.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...