Very Very Common Mike Dunford @questauthority.bsky.social

I've been seeing people saying that because JK Rowling routinely uses UK libel law to silence critics, Gaiman's failure to immediately do so shows his guilt. That's incorrect, and I think it's worth talking about why - it goes to important facets of defamation law abuse. 🧵⚖️

7 replies 40 reposts 208 likes

Stephen Cox Author only more so @stephencoxauthor.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 06, 2024 at 06:41 UTC

I worked for a hospital where two grieving parents promoted a vile conspiracy theory how doctors murdered the child. As the libel QC said, "If that is not libel, nothing is." He then spelled out how much suing would propagate the story (and this was 15 years ago.).

1 replies 1 reposts 16 likes

Dustin Du Cane @dustinducane.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 06, 2024 at 08:53 UTC

Yeah. Barbara Streisand would like a word.

0 replies 0 reposts 5 likes

Very Very Common Mike Dunford @questauthority.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 06, 2024 at 05:19 UTC

At the outset, I want to make it clear that I think the allegations against Gaiman are serious, credible, and very disturbing. Nothing in this thread should be taken as suggesting that I think otherwise. I'm purely highlighting some points about what defamation law can/can't do.

1 replies 8 reposts 186 likes

Molten Berle @moltenberle.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 06, 2024 at 06:12 UTC

Also worth considering that Rowling thinks she’s right, while Gaiman appears to think he did a bad (but technically okay) thing.

0 replies 0 reposts 8 likes

iquanyin @iquanyin.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 07, 2024 at 18:54 UTC

off topic but i’m curious. “he said she had a mental health issue that medical records don’t show” but aren’t medical records private? how would they have that info?

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Kaoru Negisa @moonpanther22.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 07, 2024 at 01:15 UTC

Also, Rowling doesn't use libel laws because she's been actually libeled. She does because she knows she can outspend and bankrupt anyone she chooses to by bringing the case. It's not because she's right, it's because that's what rich assholes do to avoid even minor, social consequences.

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Torbjörn Björkman @torbjornbjorkman.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 06, 2024 at 08:41 UTC

Anyone who wonders whether staying away from courts works, should consider the fact that there's half an Internet full of people who think that Julian Assange hid in Ecuador's embassy for years to stay out of reach of the US government.

2 replies 0 reposts 6 likes