Singer Phoebe Bridgers Defeats Defamation Suit Again on Appeal

Indie musician Phoebe Bridgers secured the dismissal of music studio owner Chris Nelson’s defamation lawsuit over her 2020 Instagram post amplifying allegations that he engaged in sexual abuse, theft, and violence.

A panel of justices on California’s Court of Appeal, Second District, in a Wednesday unpublished opinion, upheld an L.A. trial judge’s move to toss the suit.

The “content and context” of Bridgers’ post—which directed her followers to more extensive allegations of grooming, stealing, and violence posted by voice actor Emily Bannon’s page—shows that it’s protected by California’s anti-SLAPP statute, justices said.

“The post related to public concerns, especially prevalent in light of the #MeToo movement, about men using their power to abuse women,” Justice Gregory J. Weingart wrote in the opinion.

Bridgers was effectively sharing consumer protection information, as Nelson sold music equipment and ran a recording studio, and she was furthering public discourse about his business practices and alleged abuse of young female artists, the appeals court said.

The anti-SLAPP law is meant to deter lawsuits filed to silence critics through expensive and time-consuming legal action.

Nelson hadn’t challenged the trial court’s ruling that he failed to show enough evidence that his claims had minimal merit.

He also sued Bannon over her post. A trial court judge denied Bannon’s anti-SLAPP motion to strike the suit, but appeals justices overturned it, finding that Bannon’s statements were of public interest and asking the court to assess whether Nelson could show he would likely prevail on his claims.

“When public allegations of abuse are corroborated, it serves not only to further the discussion of the specific claims at issue, but also to embolden others who are being victimized to come forward,” the Wednesday opinion in Bridgers’ case said.

The court also upheld nearly $500,000 in attorneys fees the trial court awarded to Bridgers.

Justices Frances Rothschild and Helen I. Bendix concurred.

The case is Nelson v. Bridgers, Cal. Ct. App., No. B325454 consolidated with B328612 and B330346, 10/30/24.