Netflix, FX, Maureen Orth, and Tom Rob Smith are reportedly being sued by an anonymous person for defamation due to their portrayal in Maureen Orth’s nonfiction book [easyazon_link identifier=”0525482571″ locale=”US” tag=”boundingintocomics-20″]Vulgar Favors[/easyazon_link], and the subsequent adaptation for television, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.”
According to The Blast, the lawsuit was filed anonymously this past Tuesday. The lawsuit doesn’t directly name the show, but instead, it names the two networks, and also Maureen Orth and Tom Bob Smith. As mentioned previously, Orth wrote the nonfiction book [easyazon_link identifier=”0525482571″ locale=”US” tag=”boundingintocomics-20″]Vulgar Favors[/easyazon_link]. Tom Bob Smith wrote every single episode of the television adaptation.
In court documents reportedly obtained by The Blast, the plaintiff who is listed as J. Roe, claims that they sued Orth back in 2000 for both invasion of privacy and/or defamation. Roe goes on to claim that both sides at some point were able to reach a confidential settlement agreement and it was left at that.
Roe now claims that Orth violated their confidential settlement due to the creation of the show. Netflix was pulled into the lawsuit due to the platform currently streaming the show.
The lawsuit claims that Orth, Smith, Netflix, and FX defamed Roe by “including a false implication that Plaintiff is a chronic abuser of alcohol who consumes alcohol throughout the day.”
Roe further claims that they reached out to FX to cease and desist “from the ongoing defamation.” They claim FX refused.
Finally, the suit claims that Orth “has personal knowledge that the defamatory matter was false because she fabricated it herself.” Which, if proven, would leave all parties in a precocious position.
J. Roe is seeking an unspecified amount in damages.
The Assassination of Gianni Versace won multiple Primetime Emmys since its original run on FX between January and March of 2018. They include wins for Outstanding Limited Series, Outstanding Casting for a Limited Series, Movie or Special, Outstanding Contemporary Costumes, Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series or Movie, Outstanding Directing For A Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special, Outstanding Hairstyling For A Limited Series Or Movie, and Outstanding Makeup For A Limited Series Or Movie (Non-Prosthetic).
What do you make of this lawsuit?