Singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur has sued the Los Angeles Times, saying the newspaper’s use of the term “anti-purge” in a headline a year ago was defamatory, because the artist had crusaded against COVID footage but had not expressed anything. Opposition to all types of vaccines.
Arthur is represented in the lawsuit by Stephen S Pace, a Virginia attorney widely known for representing Republican Representative Devon Nunes in defamation cases against media organizations such as CNN and Washington Post, as well as attempting to expose and sue anonymous Twitter users. Accounts like “Devon Nunes” Cow.
Arthur and Pace are claiming $25 million in damages.
The main sticking point appears to be the word “anti-vax” that appeared in the title of the August 19 story – “He was a famous singer-songwriter with famous fans. Then he started posting about the vaccine” – although this term does not appear in the article itself. Although Arthur’s malicious and public opposition to COVID vaccines transcends any kind of controversy, the lawsuit notes that the headline led readers to falsely assume that the singer had opposed other types of vaccinations.
The lawsuit maintains that the entire article caused Arthur to be “ostracised and shunned” in the music community, although no other specific paragraphs in the Los Angeles Times article outside the headline were identified or cited as examples of falsehoods. The submission notes that every paragraph of the article stating that COVID vaccines have been scientifically proven is itself invalid.
“Arthur’s insightful statements about COVID-19 vaccines were 100% factually accurate,” the lawsuit says.
The article challenged Arthur’s professional integrity and exposed him to hate, scorn, ridicule, or thumbs-up as someone who was against all vaccinations. Posting caused it to be avoided and avoided. The substance hit Arthur hard while he was working as a musician, which directly led to the cancellation of several gigs. In addition to pain, emotional suffering, humiliation, embarrassment, humiliation, and reputational damage, the Los Angeles Times publications caused job damage, lost future earnings, and weakened and diminished Arthur’s earning power.”
The lawsuit appears to hold the newspaper article fully responsible for the backlash among former friends and colleagues. But the disputed story has been presented as recounting significant professional damage already inflicted on Arthur. The Times wrote a year ago: “It cost him to be the relentless voice of what he considers a disaffected minority. This year his longtime music director dropped him as a client, followed by his booking agent. Newly formed Arthur’s team quits en masse, says he lost a deal Standard was going to distribute a new double album to his fans…. His remaining fans are asking him to stop.”
Among the statements made by Arthur earlier in 2021, some of which he quoted in the Times article, include: “Dr. Anthony Fauci should go to prison, not just be fired.” He was quoted as saying on Instagram that places should be wary about forcing proof of the vaccine for admission: “If clubs and stadiums enforce it, we’ll take it out on the streets.” Shortly before the Times article, he released a protest song, “Stop the Shot.”
On Facebook, Arthur recited a poem titled “Threat not to follow” to inform fans that he would be glad if those who had turned against him unfollowed rather than just threaten. “This is what the Nazis did to the Jews, when comparing them to insects before they were collected and taken to the camps,” he said to the camera. Then there’s solitude – that’s the other art of indoctrination cult. How can they modify that? Tell people that they can’t leave their homes, they can only socialize through screens, and empty any warmth from their dream room…”
The response rate on his Facebook page indicated that the majority of those who chose to reply did not buy it. One participant wrote, “Dying from the Corona virus for owning a dress.” Another wrote: “Wow, insanity is a hell of a drug.” And: “Look, GUYIM are comparing things to the second Holocaust.”
But there is no doubt that the widely redirected Times article drew attention to a high level of interest in Arthur’s views on COVID that were more limited than before, regardless of the rightness or wrongness of their presentation.
The new lawsuit includes, as an example of “the detrimental effect on readers, including those who have dealt with Arthur,” an email from a well-known club in the DC/Virginia area, the 200-person Jammin’ Java, delaying its showing there. A club representative Arthur wrote: “We received a lot of responses, emails and the like from both staff and customers after this article was published about vaccines and masks…. It is not what we want to do but it is what we have to do. As a place at the moment We cannot do anything that will make employees or customers feel insecure, as much of the game we are playing now is about “peace of mind”. Hope you understand.” (The Times story stated that Jammin’ Java gig was the only remaining solo concert on his calendar at that point.)
At the time of the story’s publication, Arthur had already experienced the cancellation of the release of his completed sophomore album that he had recorded with REM guitarist Peter Buck in their appearance as a duo, Arthur Buck. The particular album and duo were not mentioned in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit includes an excerpt from a DM conversation between the singer and the article’s author, Randall Roberts (who has since left the Times and is not mentioned as a defendant). In the exchange, Arthur objected to the term “anti-corruption” in the headline, and Roberts suggested emailing the paper’s music editor, Craig Marks, about it, since he was the one who came up with the headline.
Arthur Roberts wrote, “I am not an anti-extremist.” “I am against this trial shot without long-term tests that harm many and are completely ineffective against the spread of the virus. I am against censorship and anti-suppression of safe and effective treatments that can save lives. You misrepresented me here. … You specifically asked me if I was against disinfection and I answered Specifically that I wasn’t No small details in today’s environment A piece like this required nuance I obviously knew it would skew in a negative light but I assumed there would be no outright lies printed in Especially in the title That comes in search Google”.
The lawsuit also alleges that the Los Angeles Times endangered Arthur’s infant son by publishing a photo of the two of them. “By prominently including an image in the article of Arthur holding his newborn child, the Los Angeles Times intended and endorsed the false inclusion and defamation, insinuating that Arthur was endangering his child, his family, and indeed society at large.”
Court filing includes a Link to Tweet From writer Roberts he told his fellow Twitter user “Thanks Robert. I’m still torn as to whether or not this is a good idea.” The lawsuit says this represents the journalist’s lack of belief in the veracity of his article, although the previous tweet was deleted, and without context, it is not clear whether Roberts is expressing doubts about his own reporting or possible remorse for the article that exposed the artist to further ridicule.
Arthur’s powerfully voiced opinions on COVID have left him in a similar situation to that of Ariel Pink, another once deeply admired cult artist who has won some neo-conservative fans with controversial opinions even as the liberal portion of his audience has strained from a former favorite.
Arthur’s 10-year-old band member Renee Lopez expressed concern about his former band leader in a 2021 Times article saying, “His rhetoric has been very serious over the past year. He continues to urge fans not to wear masks and just boost their nutrition. Some wrap it around.” It was scary. Something about him changed about three years ago, and it hasn’t been so good since. I first saw the change happen because he started sending out videos of different men talking about things related to the plot. I’ve seen him go through many stages. This stage is of course alarming.” Arthur had already hinted at a conspiratorial view in his interview with The Times, which quoted him as using the term “another kind of thing.”
But the new lawsuit assumes that Arthur was enjoying the smooth sailing of his career until August of last year, and that The Times saying he was already struggling were wrong. The article incorrectly notes that Arthur’s “questioning” of the science behind experimental COVID-19 vaccines and government and drug company motives “cost him,” and caused him to lose some music industry relationships.
The suit asks for a jury trial, damages and court costs to be assessed at more than $25 million.
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