Defamation of Character Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Defamation of Character - Essay Example To cite an example of a â€Å"libel† or defamation case, let us look at the $100 million defamation lawsuit filed by a well-known Hollywood actor Tom Cruise against a pornography actor Chad Slater who uses stage name Kyle Bradford. (NDTV.com 2003).   Slater allegedly claimed he had a gay affair with Cruise that broke up Cruise's marriage (Digital Journal 2001).   According to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Slater told the French magazine Actustar that â€Å"he had a continuing homosexual relationship during Cruise’s marriage and that the relationship was discovered by Nicole Kidman, who ended the relationship†.   With this allegations, a per se defamation, it caused damage to the plaintiff or Cruise.   The defender, in the person of Slater, issued false statements in the effect that Cruise committed immoral turpitude. The lawsuit claimed that ``Cruise is not and never has been a homosexual'' and ``does not even know Slater†.   Sl ater defaulted the $100 million by claiming that he never met Cruise and said that "I hope by defaulting, Cruise will finally get what he is after and I can finally start to put my life back in order,'' (NDTV.com 2003).   The default motion did not indicated that Slater admitted to wrongdoing, but was an acknowledgment that he did not have the money to fight the lawsuit and would not contest it, causing Tom Cruise to win a $10 million defamation judgment, and clearing his name in the public eye.