Back in September of 2021, Phoebe Bridgers was sued by Chris Nelson — Los Angeles-based record producer and owner of Sound Space studio — for defamation. Nelson's complaint claimed that Bridgers used her very popular Instagram account to publish false and slanderous statements about Nelson "in order to destroy his reputation." In February of 2022, Bridgers responded to Nelson's suit, stating that she "[believed] that the statements I made in my Instagram story are true."
And now, as reported by MyNewsLA and confirmed by Pitchfork, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge has dismissed the lawsuit. Judge Curtis A. Kin has granted Bridgers' anti-SLAPP (that's Lawsuit Against Public Participation) motion, which is meant to prevent people from using lawsuits as an intimidation tactic against those exercising their right to free speech.
"We feel vindicated that the Court recognized this lawsuit as frivolous and without merit," a spokesperson for Bridgers wrote in a statement provided to Pitchfork. "It was not grounded in law, or facts, but was filed with the sole intention of causing harm to our client's reputation and career. This victory is important not just for our client but for all those she was seeking to protect by using her platform."
The statements that spurred the original suit were made by Bridgers on her Instagram story, where the artist accused Nelson of "grooming, stealing, [and] violence," and directed people to posts made by Nelson's ex-girlfriend Emily Bannon.
Nelson's September suit stated that Bridgers "intentionally used her high-profile public platform on Instagram to publish false and defamatory statements regarding [Nelson] in order to destroy his reputation." He was seeking $3.8 million in damages.
And now, as reported by MyNewsLA and confirmed by Pitchfork, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge has dismissed the lawsuit. Judge Curtis A. Kin has granted Bridgers' anti-SLAPP (that's Lawsuit Against Public Participation) motion, which is meant to prevent people from using lawsuits as an intimidation tactic against those exercising their right to free speech.
"We feel vindicated that the Court recognized this lawsuit as frivolous and without merit," a spokesperson for Bridgers wrote in a statement provided to Pitchfork. "It was not grounded in law, or facts, but was filed with the sole intention of causing harm to our client's reputation and career. This victory is important not just for our client but for all those she was seeking to protect by using her platform."
The statements that spurred the original suit were made by Bridgers on her Instagram story, where the artist accused Nelson of "grooming, stealing, [and] violence," and directed people to posts made by Nelson's ex-girlfriend Emily Bannon.
Nelson's September suit stated that Bridgers "intentionally used her high-profile public platform on Instagram to publish false and defamatory statements regarding [Nelson] in order to destroy his reputation." He was seeking $3.8 million in damages.