A Los Angeles decide has dismissed a $3.8 million defamation lawsuit filed towards Phoebe Bridgers by Chris Nelson, a producer and recording studio proprietor who claimed the singer-songwriter made false and defamatory statements on social media “with the intention to destroy his fame.”
In February, Bridgers’ authorized staff filed an anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits In opposition to Public Participation) movement to strike Nelson’s grievance on the idea that the lawsuit is “searching for to sit back” her allegations of abusive conduct, violating her proper to free speech. California’s anti-SLAPP statute goals to stop individuals from utilizing courts and potential lawsuits to intimidate and silence individuals from exercising their First Modification rights.
Decide Curtis A. Kin has now granted Bridgers’ dismissal request. “We really feel vindicated that the Courtroom acknowledged this lawsuit as frivolous and with out advantage,” a spokesperson for Phoebe Bridgers wrote in an announcement. “It was not grounded in legislation, or details, however was filed with the only real intention of inflicting hurt to our shopper’s fame and profession. This victory is necessary not only for our shopper however for all these she was searching for to guard through the use of her platform.”
Responding to Nelson’s lawsuit, which was filed in September 2021, Bridgers wrote in a sworn declaration on February 14: “I consider that the statements I made in my Instagram story are true. My statements had been made based mostly on my private data, together with statements I personally heard Mr. Nelson make, in addition to my very own observations. I proceed to consider the statements that I made had been true.”
In her preliminary submit, Bridgers directed her followers to a thread written by her buddy Emily Bannon on Instagram. “I witnessed and might personally confirm a lot of the abuse (grooming, stealing, violence) perpetuated by Chris Nelson, proprietor of a studio known as Sound House,” it learn. “For anybody who is aware of [Nelson], is contemplating working with him, or needs to know extra, there’s an articulate and mind-blowing account on @emilybannon’s web page as a spotlight. TRIGGER WARNING for principally all the things triggering.”
At an August courtroom listening to, Decide Curtis Kin hinted that he was “leaning” towards granting her movement to strike. “It might appear to me that the posting by Ms. Bridgers is one that may be a matter of public curiosity,” he stated (through Rolling Stone). “It appears to me that her statements on Instagram are statements that concern an individual who’s within the public eye, in addition to statements that would instantly have an effect on numerous individuals past Mr. Nelson and Ms. Bridgers.”
Nelson beforehand misplaced a separate defamation case towards singer-songwriter Noël Wells, after he claimed Wells had made “false, defamatory, and deceptive” feedback when she allegedly warned Large Thief towards working with him in July 2020. Los Angeles County Decide Gregory W. Alarcon dominated that Wells’ feedback, made “within the development or help of the creation of music,” had been protected underneath free speech rights.