A devoted fan is suing Nicki Minaj because the rapper has presumably defamed him in public, calling him a “poor, mentally ill stalker.” In this case, what makes it newsworthy, aside from the high-profile event, is the 15-year commitment required from the fan himself—a fact that will maybe clarify the complex dynamics at work within this microcosm of the entertainment business. The case provides a rare glimpse into the often fuzzy celebrity-fan dynamic, where comments meant for public exposure can quickly become legal battlegrounds.
LOOK: Nicki Minaj is being sued by super fan for allegedly slandering him.
In his lawsuit, the 15-year super fan alleges Nicki called him a poor, mentally ill stalker.
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The plaintiff is from Delaware county and, since his career started, has been a fan of Minaj. He claims the recent utterances by the rapper have proven to be too devastating for him to bear. According to the lawsuit, Minaj called the fan “poor” and “mentally ill stalker,” thereby smearing him in public. The comments, the fan argues, did not only defame but caused emotional distress.
Thus, the underlying cause of action in the lawsuit is based on the tort of libel and slander, with potentially an independent cause of action for emotional distress. The plaintiff will have to establish that Minaj’s comments were false, that she had made them with actual malice, and that damages occurred. It will not be easy to prove that the comments were not opinions but part of factual statements that caused real damage.
This lawsuit has been front-page news, with everybody talking about it. On one hand, some critics believe the fan is overstepping validly made arguments, as the lengthy involvement of the fan could be compromising his judgment. This is being seen on the other hand as an apt claim on a celebrity crossing her line, pointing out the power dynamics in the digital age. The case raised debates regarding how much public figures can ultimately be held responsible for what they say and the implications for how they interact with fans on social media.
Nicki Minaj has remained silent about the lawsuit in her full public statement. Considering she has tended to respond with comments to her user fans over social media, some speculation is she will eventually mention something publicly on the topic or even through her legal team.
Her attorneys will likely argue that Minaj’s comments constituted free speech; they were merely her opinions, not facts. The attorneys may also deploy the rationale that the fan, with the nature of his active configuration online such as all his acts, omissions, and all his engagements, has impliedly waived his right to privacy; and therefore, he is a public figure, that would in turn lump up the already perceived difficulty of proving defamation legally.
