Paris, 2022-04-05 21:12:50. Alec Baldwin wants to dismiss defamation suit
Alec Baldwin is asking a federal judge to dismiss a defamation suit brought by a Wyoming woman who said she received hateful messages on social media after the actress posted on social media a photo she posted of protesters at former President Donald Trump’s rally in January 2021 and made a political comment.
Baldwin’s lawyers argued on Monday: “Republishing a photo that Royce (McCollum) made public and then expressing a political opinion on it cannot be a basis for an allegation of intentional harm.”
The lawsuit was filed in January by Royce McCollum whose brother was killed in a suicide bombing at Kabul airport, Afghanistan, in August 2021.
After learning of the death of Marine Corps Lance. Riley McCollum of Wyoming, the expected birth of his daughter, Baldwin reached out to Royce McCollum via Instagram and donated $5,000 to the family.
In January, Baldwin saw that Royce McCollum had posted on Instagram a photo of protesters from former President Donald Trump’s rally at the Washington Monument taken on January 6, 2021.
Baldwin sent her a private message asking if she had organized the fundraiser. She confirmed that it was the same woman and that she took part in the protest, which she described as “completely legal,” according to court documents.
Baldwin told Roice McCollum that he shared her photo with his 2.4 million followers on Instagram and wrote, “Good luck,” according to the lawsuit.
Royce McCollum said she received hundreds of hateful letters including one telling her to “rape and die” and that her brother “got what he deserved,” according to the lawsuit in Wyoming.
The complaint, which also refers to Jenna McCollum and Riley’s wife, said they were defamed after the online feud. They are seeking $25 million in compensation.
Baldwin’s response lists several reasons for dismissing the lawsuit, including saying that the court has no jurisdiction over Baldwin because he does not live in Wyoming, that private communications between him and Royce Baldwin could not be defamatory and that Cheyenne and Jenna’s allegations should be dismissed because Baldwin made no statements about them.
Baldwin “was sarcastically shocked that his tribute to a fallen Marine, a patriot, was orchestrated by an individual who took part in an event that – in the opinion of Baldwin and many others – was an attack on the very essence of American democracy,” his response said.
“The real irony here is that Royce is suing Baldwin for expressing his widely supported opinion on January 6, when Royce wrote to him moments before her January 6 engagement — an event that promoted the false assertion that the 2020 election was stolen — constitutes “freedom to pretend ”, replied in reply.
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