Leah McSweeney isn’t missing the Bravo bucks!
14.03.2024 - 23:17 / variety.com
Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer A Los Angeles judge has thrown out portions of Leah Remini‘s lawsuit against Scientology, finding that some of the church’s attacks on her are protected under the First Amendment. But in a mixed ruling, the judge also found that the church cannot claim free-speech protection for allegedly stalking, harassing and surveilling Remini, or for harassing producers and staff who worked on her anti-Scientology podcast.
Since leaving Scientology in 2013, the “King of Queens” actor has become its most prominent critic, writing a memoir and hosting two seasons of the A&E docuseries, “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.” Last August, she filed a 68-page lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging she had been subject to a decade of online attacks, stalking and intimidation designed to punish her for her criticism of the church. The suit alleged that Remini was the latest in a long line of Scientology critics to be subject to so-called “Fair Game” tactics.
Among other things, the church set up a website attacking Remini in highly personal terms, which included videos of her estranged father, who has since died, and accusations of her inciting “bigotry” and violence toward the church. Scientology’s lawyers filed a motion to strike most of Remini’s lawsuit under California’s anti-SLAPP statute, which protects speech on matters of public interest.
Judge Randolph Hammock issued a lengthy ruling on Tuesday, agreeing with the church that some of the allegations should be thrown out. He found that the church’s characterizations of Remini as a “bigot,” “racist” and “pro-rape” are opinions offered in the course of a high-profile dispute and that they do not rise to the level of defamation.
Leah McSweeney isn’t missing the Bravo bucks!
Variety can confirm. Numerous attempts to reach an out of court settlement collapsed and a trial date has been tentatively set for Oct. 2024.
Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer “The Walking Dead” debuted on AMC in 2010, instantly becoming a massive hit. For almost as long, the cable network has been fighting in court with the show’s creators over how much of the profits it has to share. Much like the main show itself (which ended in 2022), the original lawsuit is over — but the spinoff litigation is still going strong.
Yikes! Prince Harry has been dragged into Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ sexual abuse allegations!
name has appeared in court documents against Bad Boys Records founder Sean “Diddy” Combs.Producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones recently filed a $30 million lawsuit against the music mogul, 54, citing that he participated in acts such as sexual misconduct, grooming and sex trafficking.According to the docs, Jones claimed that the Duke of Sussex, 39, and other A-listers’ “affiliation” added to Diddy’s “legitimacy.”The update comes amid the Diddy Dirty Money member’s Miami and Los Angeles mansions being raided. The homes were ambushed by federal agents and Homeland Security on Monday in a possible connection with the sex-trafficking investigation. The court papers do not suggest that Harry was involved in any wrongdoing or criminal activity in conjunction with Diddy.
A federal judge tossed out a lawsuit brought by X/Twitter against a watching group that produced a study that examined the proliferation of hate speech on the platform.
Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor A federal judge Monday dismissed a lawsuit brought by Elon Musk‘s X against the Center for Countering Digital Hate, ruling it was “evident” the litigation was intended “to punish CCDH for CCDH publications that criticized X Corp.” X, the Musk-owned social network formerly known as Twitter, in July 2023 sued the Center for Countering Digital Hate, an independent nonprofit research group, over the organization’s findings that since the multibillionaire acquired the company hate, racism and disinformation on the social platform has substantially increased. Musk has not commented on X about the decision.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s bitter legal battles following their divorce are still underway. With the former couple going head to head in court over the French winery Chateau Miraval, the Benjamin Button star has reportedly taken a loss.The former couple bought Chateau Miraval in Correns, France, back in 2008, and they even married there in 2014.
Brad Pitt is having to change course in that contentious lawsuit against ex-wife Angelina Jolie over their former jointly-owned Château Miraval vineyard property in France!
Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury has renewed Game Show Network‘s People Puzzler, hosted by Leah Remini, for a second season in national broadcast syndication.
Cynthia Littleton Business Editor A federal judge has dismissed the antitrust lawsuit that DirecTV filed against Nexstar last year accusing the TV station giant of price-fixing in connection with its retransmission consent negotiations with the satellite TV platform. DirecTV’s suit, filed in New York’s Southern District in March 2023, accused Nexstar of engaging in price-fixing activity around the retransmission consent fees from MVPDs that have become a key source of revenue for local station owners.
One of Jimmie Allen‘s sexual assault cases has been dropped.
Axl Rose has filed a motion to dismiss the sexual assault lawsuit that was made against him in late 2023.In November, a lawsuit was filed in New York’s Supreme Court against the Guns N’ Roses frontman, alleging that he sexually assaulted the model Sheila Kennedy in 1989.In the lawsuit, Kennedy claimed that she was 26 and he was 27 when they first met at a nightclub in New York. Upon meeting, Rose is said to have invited Kennedy to his hotel room.At first, there was an initial consensual kiss, where Rose is alleged to have “pushed Kennedy against the wall”.
The family of a Ukrainian translator and “fixer” filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Fox News and a series of other defendants, claiming that the network was “reckless and negligent” and has tried to conceal key information for what happened when a crew was attacked outside of Kyiv on March 14, 2022.
Kelly Clarkson is seeking a new order against her ex-husband and his father’s management company!
Leah Remini‘s defamation and harassment suit against the Church of Scientology is far from dead, but it’s certainly constitutionally wounded.
Samantha Markle‘s legal battle against Meghan Markle is over for good!
Lizzo is fighting back against her dancers HARD after the judge dismissed some of their claims!
UPDATED: A letter sent by Andy Cohen‘s lawyer to the legal team of Real Housewives of New York alum Leah McSweeney reiterates that claims of workplace discrimination and retaliation made in her lawsuit against the franchise’s boss are false, and calls on McSweeney to retract her accusations.
Meredith Woerner Deputy Editor, Variety.com Andy Cohen — executive producer of Bravo‘s “Real Housewives” franchise and the host of its nightly talk show “Watch What Happens Live” — has fired back against allegations made in a lawsuit by Leah McSweeney, a former cast member of “The Real Housewives of New York City.” In a letter sent on March 6 to McSweeney’s representation from his attorney, Orin Snyder, Cohen calls her allegations “false, offensive and defamatory.” On Feb. 27, McSweeney filed a complaint against Cohen, Bravo and NBCUniversal alleging that Cohen fostered a “rotted workplace culture,” as she told the New York Times in an interview.