Elon Musk, owner of social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) is being sued for libel, following claims he falsely accused a recent college graduate of neo-Nazi affiliations.
Case Background: Ben Brody, 22, is suing Musk for amplifying posts on X that wrongly identified him as a participant in a right-wing extremist brawl during a Pride event in Portland on June 24.
* The lawsuit alleges Musk’s pattern of making false accusations which are detrimental to innocent parties, fostering disinformation and denying neo-Nazi violence.
* The case revolves around a street fight between two far-right groups, the Proud Boys and the Rose City Nationalists, among whom Brody was allegedly identified.
False Accusation: An anonymous post on X compared Brody with an unmasked man in a video of the brawl.
* As a person of Jewish heritage, the lawsuit states that the accusation of Brody being a neo-Nazi is “utterly profane and blasphemous.”
* Despite evidence from Brody, including debit card receipts and video footage proving he was in California at the time, Musk refused to retract his accusations.
Consequences for Brody: Brody alleges that Musk’s tweets led to panic, fear, and depression.
* The lawsuit describes Brody’s cycle of panic, fear, denial, disorientation, and depression, as well as physical symptoms such as sleep problems, panic attacks, headaches, and fatigue.
* Brody is now concerned about future job opportunities and being confronted by conspiracy theorists. He is seeking damages of at least $1 million, a jury trial, and a judgment to clear his name.
Comment from Musk: There has been no response to a request for comment from Musk’s lawyer.
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