CNN
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Legal professionals representing Roxie Washington, the mom of George Floyd’s daughter, have drafted a cease-and-desist letter to Ye, previously often known as Kanye West, over feedback he made claiming Floyd was killed by a fentanyl overdose.
On the podcast “Drink Champs,” West claimed George Floyd was killed by a fentanyl overdose, regardless of a medical expert’s testimony that fentanyl not the direct reason behind Floyd’s dying, solely a contributing issue when he died after being knelt on by a police officer.
Attorneys at Witherspoon Regulation Group advised CNN the feedback have been particularly damaging to Gianna Floyd, George Floyd’s daughter.
“She’s somewhat woman that’s been traumatized and is being re-traumatized by Kanye West,” lawyer Kay Harper Williams stated of George Floyd’s daughter. It’s “intentional infliction of emotional misery,” she added.
When CNN sat with then-6-year-old Gianna Floyd in June 2020 she didn’t say a phrase throughout the interview.
The attorneys have indicated they intend to additionally file a lawsuit “for harassment, misappropriation, defamation, and infliction of emotional misery.”
CNN has reached out to a consultant of Ye for remark.
As of Tuesday, the episode of “Drink Champs” appeared to have been faraway from YouTube and Revolt TV. Nonetheless, “it nonetheless exists, that doesn’t take away it from the universe,” stated Williams.
“Too little too late, the hurt has been finished to our shopper,” she added.
A cease-and-desist letter, supplied to CNN, was addressed to an lawyer they believed was representing Ye, nonetheless, they advised CNN they have been knowledgeable this lawyer was not really affiliated with Ye on this matter. They’re actively attempting to ensure it’s acquired, although they added there will likely be extra stress as soon as the lawsuit is formally filed.
Concerning a separate authorized effort being explored by lawyer Lee Merritt, who has represented the Floyd household on issues previously, Williams advised CNN the 2 authorized haven’t been coordinating efforts up up to now.
Merritt advised CNN on Monday that Floyd’s brother contacted him to pursue a defamation swimsuit towards the star.
Whereas that’s not legally potential as a result of George Floyd is deceased, Merritt stated, there are different authorized avenues to pursue, together with the Floyd household probably suing for intentional infliction of emotional misery.
“I’ve put collectively a working staff to research [Ye’s] statements and to research the supply of these statements,” Merritt stated.
CNN has reached out to Merritt for touch upon the cease-and-desist letter.
“George Floyd, identical to Gianna stated, modified the world so to have Kanye West come again and converse in a method that’s dangerous to that legacy,” Williams stated, “I’m offended as a human, as a black girl, as a mom.”
“Gianna is a baby and she or he’s being harmed,” she added.
“There’s a very necessary dialogue proper now across the nation about speech,” stated Witherspoon. “However on the finish of the day you can’t say this stuff which might be false.”