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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsElon Musk Files to Dismiss 'Pedo' Defamation Suit, Saying Insult Was 'Not Serious'
Source: Rolling Stone
DECEMBER 27, 2018 11:30AM ET
Elon Musk Files to Dismiss Pedo Defamation Suit, Saying Insult Was Not Serious
The billionaires attorneys say his comments were non-actionable opinion with no factual basis and protected by the First Amendment
By PETER WADE
Eccentric billionaire Elon Musk and his attorneys filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit from a man Musk called a pedo guy following the dramatic rescue of 12 Thai boys and their soccer coach trapped in a cave. In a filing made on Wednesday, Musks lawyers claim his insults aimed at British cave diver Vern Unsworth, who assisted in the rescue efforts, were over-the-top, not serious and were only made in retaliation for negative comments Unsworth made about Musk.
After the boys were rescued from the cave in the summer of 2018, Unsworth, in a CNN interview, called Musks attempts to assist the rescue efforts by providing a submarine and other equipment and personnel a PR stunt with absolutely no chance of working and suggested Musk stick his submarine where it hurts. Musk, angered by these comments, then went on a tirade to insult and demean the cave diver.
First, Musk tweeted, We will make [a video] of the mini-sub/pod going all the way to Cave 5 no problemo. Sorry pedo guy, you really did ask for it. But now, in a recent filing to dismiss, Musks lawyers say the tweet was made of over-top-insults not driven by first-hand knowledge and was non-actionable opinion with no factual basis, since Musk had never met Unsworth. Musks defense asserts that because the remarks were made on Twitter, a platform they say is infamous for invective and hyperbole, that they should not be taken seriously.
However, Musk continued his tirade, emailing BuzzFeed, alleging that Unsworth had married a child bride who was 12 years old at the time and accusing the British expat of moving to Thailand because it is known for child sex-trafficking, and not cave diving. He also said he hopes Unsworth files suit. BuzzFeed published the email.
To defend these insults, Musks lawyers say that Musk asked for those comments to be off the record, but BuzzFeed claims they did not agree to that condition of the correspondence and states it is common journalistic practice that both parties must agree that comments are off the record. Musks attorneys go on to say that the billionaires comments in no way could be construed as objective fact, instead likening the spat to a schoolyard spat on social media. Furthermore, they claim that any remarks made by Musk are protected by the First Amendment.
-snip-
Elon Musk Files to Dismiss Pedo Defamation Suit, Saying Insult Was Not Serious
The billionaires attorneys say his comments were non-actionable opinion with no factual basis and protected by the First Amendment
By PETER WADE
Eccentric billionaire Elon Musk and his attorneys filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit from a man Musk called a pedo guy following the dramatic rescue of 12 Thai boys and their soccer coach trapped in a cave. In a filing made on Wednesday, Musks lawyers claim his insults aimed at British cave diver Vern Unsworth, who assisted in the rescue efforts, were over-the-top, not serious and were only made in retaliation for negative comments Unsworth made about Musk.
After the boys were rescued from the cave in the summer of 2018, Unsworth, in a CNN interview, called Musks attempts to assist the rescue efforts by providing a submarine and other equipment and personnel a PR stunt with absolutely no chance of working and suggested Musk stick his submarine where it hurts. Musk, angered by these comments, then went on a tirade to insult and demean the cave diver.
First, Musk tweeted, We will make [a video] of the mini-sub/pod going all the way to Cave 5 no problemo. Sorry pedo guy, you really did ask for it. But now, in a recent filing to dismiss, Musks lawyers say the tweet was made of over-top-insults not driven by first-hand knowledge and was non-actionable opinion with no factual basis, since Musk had never met Unsworth. Musks defense asserts that because the remarks were made on Twitter, a platform they say is infamous for invective and hyperbole, that they should not be taken seriously.
However, Musk continued his tirade, emailing BuzzFeed, alleging that Unsworth had married a child bride who was 12 years old at the time and accusing the British expat of moving to Thailand because it is known for child sex-trafficking, and not cave diving. He also said he hopes Unsworth files suit. BuzzFeed published the email.
To defend these insults, Musks lawyers say that Musk asked for those comments to be off the record, but BuzzFeed claims they did not agree to that condition of the correspondence and states it is common journalistic practice that both parties must agree that comments are off the record. Musks attorneys go on to say that the billionaires comments in no way could be construed as objective fact, instead likening the spat to a schoolyard spat on social media. Furthermore, they claim that any remarks made by Musk are protected by the First Amendment.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/elon-musk-pedo-suit-772871/
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Elon Musk Files to Dismiss 'Pedo' Defamation Suit, Saying Insult Was 'Not Serious' (Original Post)
Eugene
Dec 2018
OP
Utter bullshit. Musk doubled down on the allegations repeatedly on Twitter at the time,
Denzil_DC
Dec 2018
#2
SunSeeker
(51,550 posts)1. Elon, you fucked up. Admit it, pay a settlement and move on. nt
Denzil_DC
(7,233 posts)2. Utter bullshit. Musk doubled down on the allegations repeatedly on Twitter at the time,
cheered on by some of his fanboys, making the same claims he made to BuzzFeed.
I think at least some of those tweets were deleted, but they'll still be on record with a little digging.
I hope the court reacts very negatively to this attempt to shrug off some of the most serious unfounded allegations that can be made, short of murder.
ret5hd
(20,491 posts)3. So,uhhhmm...uhhh...is there a video of the mini-sub/pod going all the way to Cave 5 no problemo...
or was that just an over-top-claim not driven by first-hand knowledge and was non-actionable opinion with no factual basis?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Honestly.