Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner have sued reality TV and singing star Ray J for defamation. This lawsuit comes on the heels of a series of public allegations by Ray J accusing the Kardashian-Jenner family of being under investigation for RICO, bringing a controversy that had been raging for nearly two decades back to life.
A Saga Reignited
Just when it seemed like the complicated and long-running tale of Kim Kardashian and Ray J, and their infamous sex tape incident in 2007, would have finally faded away from the spotlight, new allegations have revived the explosion in a grand way. For years, it has been said that the tape was leaked without Kim's consent. However, in a recent and very public reply to this story, rap star Ray J has refuted these notions and made explosive allegations suggesting that what transpired was a far more calculated set of events.
The crux of this new battle is the claims that Ray J has made in it, that the leak of this tape wasn't a leak at all, it was a business transaction. He has claimed that he, Kim and her mother, Kris Jenner, had all gotten into it to release the footage for a boost in Kim's career. He has actually gone as far as to state that he has the contracts and communications to back up his story. This story directly contradicts the story the Kardashians have been selling for the last decade, that Kim was a victim of someone invading her private moment of intimacy without her consent.
The Defamation and Litigation Claims
The last has now passed from war of words to a war of the law. After continuous allegations of Ray J, Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner have filed a lawsuit against him for defamation claiming Ray J's statements are not only completely false but are malicious attempts to try and ruin their reputations and destroy their huge business empires.
Defamation in law is said to be, the publication of falsehood to a third person who is the subject of the defamation, and suffers the injury resulting from the false accusation. The Kardashian-Jenner legal team will need to demonstrate that Ray J knowingly lied, and that the lies did indeed cause concrete damage to either his personal reputation or his brand. The purpose of this lawsuit is to quiet the allegations Ray J makes and maybe recover money for the resulting damages. In essence, the family is drawing a line in the sand and stating that they will no longer allow these public accusations to continue.
The RICO Connection
What complicates this situation is Ray J actually mentioning a RICO investigation. RICO stands for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which is a federal statute that was originally enacted to bring and prosecute organized crime organizations, such as the Mafia. Charging someone with a RICO investigation implies that an individual is involved in a criminal organization that participates in a crime pattern.
By linking his claims with a RICO case, Ray J elevated his accusations from celebrity gossip to those of major illegal activity. This was probably the final blow for the Kardashian-Jenner family. For them, it is one thing to be part of a debate over who should get credit for a sex tape, it is a completely different thing to be accused of being part of an illegal conspiracy deserving of a federal probe. Their complaint is a direct response to what they see as a dangerous and false ratcheting of the narrative.
What Happens Next?
This lawsuit presents a celebrity legal drama. Ray J will now be on the hook for having to prove his claims in a court of law. If he actually does have the contracts and communications which he is claiming, this might be the time for him to bring it to the table. On the other hand, if his claims can be proven untrue, he could be liable to heavy fines and court order him to retract his statements.
For the public, however, this is another step towards understanding a story that has fascinated people for years. It draws on the nitty gritty of celebrity, PR, and the way stories are told and manipulated in the media. The result of this case could either bury one of the longest-standing controversies of modern pop culture, or dig up an entirely new can of worms. Whatever the case may be, the world will be watching to see how this dramatic saga will unfold.
Post a Comment