Kanye West has been inviting more than his share of controversy lately, after he espoused a variety of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and other ideas he seems to have embraced from some of the far-right angles on the internet. During an appearance on the “Drink Champs” podcast, West went so far as to make comments about the late George Floyd, claiming that Floyd was not actually killed by a police officer but died of a fentanyl overdose, a claim that angered Roxy Washington. , the mother of Floyd’s only daughter, Gianna Floyd (and apparently a far cry from West’s actions two years ago). Washington announced a defamation lawsuit against West seeking damages of $250 million.
In a press release from Witherspoon Law Group, West’s comments amount to “harassment, embezzlement, defamation and psychological harm” to the Floyd family.
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One can be reminded of Alex Jones, the notorious broadcaster who is currently in a series of troubles in civil court for trading conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Jones has been successfully prosecuted twice in court for inflicting emotional distress on the family of Sandy Hook victims. But as Roy S. Guterman of the Tully Center for Free Speech at Syracuse University pointed out to NPR, proving such allegations of recklessness or intent can be challenging, especially against a media figure. Guterman also points out that laws against defamation or slander do not apply without a living plaintiff, and the Floyd family will not be able to sue on his behalf to make false allegations – instead, they will have to prove that West maliciously or recklessly caused them emotional distress through his actions.
An episode of “Drink Champs” depicting West has been pulled from the Internet, and host NORE has issued a public apology for not responding to West’s comments. But West himself did not respond to the upcoming lawsuit.
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