Focus on the BIG picture.
Tuesday, Feb 25, 2025
Outside the box.
0:00
0:00
Kim Kardashian Faces Defamation Lawsuit Over Misidentified Death Row Inmate
Ivan A. Cantu of New York claims emotional distress after Kardashian's Instagram post mistakenly linked him to a Texas death row case.
Kim Kardashian is facing a defamation lawsuit in Los Angeles after mistakenly identifying a New York resident, Ivan A. Cantu, as a death row inmate on her Instagram account.
The social media post, made last year, included a black-and-white photograph of Cantu and claimed he was scheduled for execution for double homicide in Texas.
In her post, Kardashian stated, "The state will execute Ivan Cantu in 2 days," and urged her followers to sign a petition demanding that the Collin County District Attorney, Greg Willis, withdraw the execution date.
The lawsuit, filed by Cantu, alleges that Kardashian's post has resulted in severe emotional distress and public humiliation for him.
Notably, the actual inmate, also named Ivan Cantu, was executed by lethal injection on February 28, 2024. The complainant, a Middletown, New York resident, maintains that he is completely unrelated to the criminal case.
Cantu's attorney, Greg Sobo, stated that his client was privately mourning a family loss at the time of Kardashian's post.
He further claimed that Kardashian's actions significantly harmed Cantu's reputation and invasion of privacy during a vulnerable moment.
Sobo emphasized the profound impact of social media, remarking that while it can foster positive change, it can also cause significant harm when misused.
In response, Kardashian's legal counsel, Michael Rhodes, characterized the incident as an unfortunate mistake, asserting that Kardashian's intentions were focused on criminal justice reform.
Rhodes noted that the use of a public photo of another individual with the same name occurred while she was advocating for a cause she has long been committed to.
Kardashian has emerged as a prominent activist in recent years, particularly known for her efforts in lobbying for criminal justice reform.
Her advocacy gained widespread attention when she successfully campaigned for the commutation of Alice Marie Johnson's life sentence related to a non-violent drug offense, following discussions with former President Donald Trump.
The social media post, made last year, included a black-and-white photograph of Cantu and claimed he was scheduled for execution for double homicide in Texas.
In her post, Kardashian stated, "The state will execute Ivan Cantu in 2 days," and urged her followers to sign a petition demanding that the Collin County District Attorney, Greg Willis, withdraw the execution date.
The lawsuit, filed by Cantu, alleges that Kardashian's post has resulted in severe emotional distress and public humiliation for him.
Notably, the actual inmate, also named Ivan Cantu, was executed by lethal injection on February 28, 2024. The complainant, a Middletown, New York resident, maintains that he is completely unrelated to the criminal case.
Cantu's attorney, Greg Sobo, stated that his client was privately mourning a family loss at the time of Kardashian's post.
He further claimed that Kardashian's actions significantly harmed Cantu's reputation and invasion of privacy during a vulnerable moment.
Sobo emphasized the profound impact of social media, remarking that while it can foster positive change, it can also cause significant harm when misused.
In response, Kardashian's legal counsel, Michael Rhodes, characterized the incident as an unfortunate mistake, asserting that Kardashian's intentions were focused on criminal justice reform.
Rhodes noted that the use of a public photo of another individual with the same name occurred while she was advocating for a cause she has long been committed to.
Kardashian has emerged as a prominent activist in recent years, particularly known for her efforts in lobbying for criminal justice reform.
Her advocacy gained widespread attention when she successfully campaigned for the commutation of Alice Marie Johnson's life sentence related to a non-violent drug offense, following discussions with former President Donald Trump.
