Despite Morgan Freeman’s claims that CNN committed “journalistic malpractice” and defamed him with a May 24 story in which eight women accused the actor of inappropriate behavior, the Oscar-winning star may not have much of a legal case.
While Freeman’s lawyers on Tuesday demanded a retraction, legal experts told TheWrap that the actor would face an uphill battle pursuing the matter in court.
“A public figure like a movie star is going to have an especially difficult time because they have to prove a high level of recklessness in doing this story,” Frank LoMonte, a media law professor at the University of Florida and director of the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, told TheWrap. “They’re almost going to have to prove it was a purposeful hit job.”
He explained that First Amendment protections have led to a “purposefully high bar” for public figures to win defamation cases.
While Freeman’s lawyers on Tuesday demanded a retraction, legal experts told TheWrap that the actor would face an uphill battle pursuing the matter in court.
“A public figure like a movie star is going to have an especially difficult time because they have to prove a high level of recklessness in doing this story,” Frank LoMonte, a media law professor at the University of Florida and director of the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, told TheWrap. “They’re almost going to have to prove it was a purposeful hit job.”
He explained that First Amendment protections have led to a “purposefully high bar” for public figures to win defamation cases.
- 5/30/2018
- by Jon Levine and Itay Hod
- The Wrap
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