Idaho drag performer awarded $1.1 million in defamation case against far-right blogger

AP ^ | May 25, 2024 | Anon

[ProtectOurFreedom]

A jury has awarded more than $1.1 million to an Idaho drag performer who accused a far-right blogger of defaming him when she falsely claimed that he exposed himself to a crowd, including children, during a Pride event in June 2022.

The Kootenai County District Court jury unanimously found Friday that Summer Bushnell defamed Post Falls resident Eric Posey when she posted a doctored video of his performance with a blurred spot that she claimed covered his “fully exposed genitals,” the Coeur D’Alene Press reported.

In reality the unedited video showed no indecent exposure, and prosecutors declined to file charges.

“The judicial system did what needed to be done,” Posey said after the verdict.

Jurors awarded Posey $926,000 in compensatory damages for defamation. Because Posey proved that Bushnell knew her allegations were false when she made them or that she made the accusations with reckless disregard for the truth, the jury awarded $250,000 in additional punitive damages.

Posey, who uses the stage name Mona Liza Million, performed three times at the Pride in the Park celebration wearing a long-sleeve leotard, black shorts and tights, with a shiny metallic boa around his waist. He did not remove clothing.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

This happened at the same "Pride" event where 31 members of a white supremacist group called Patriot Front were arrested nearby and charged with conspiracy to riot.

I'm sick of these "drag" performers in our town and by the entire "pride" event.

If you are going to write about them, be sure to get your facts straight and don't make things up. It will be costly if you are found guilty of defamation and libel.

But, in this case, it does seem that justice was served.

Eric Posey, of Post Falls, Idaho, embraces a supporter in court, after a jury awarded him more than $1.1 million in damages in his defamation lawsuit against conservative blogger Summer Bushnell, Friday, May 24, 2024, in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. Posey said he suffered harassment and death threats after Bushnell falsely accused him of exposing himself to minors during a performance in 2022. (Kaye Thornbrugh/Coeur D’Alene Press via AP)

[fwdude]

“Believe all faggots” is the new hash-tag campaign.

[Tell It Right]

...knew her allegations were false when she made them or that she made the accusations with reckless disregard for the truth...

An accurate description of a daily practice of the Drive By Media.

[Bob434]

[[In reality the unedited video showed no indecent exposure]]

objection your honor- the performer himself is extremely indecent/immoral!

[ProtectOurFreedom]

A couple of pics of what it looks like when "performing." Try to control your gag reflex. After all, it's just pure, clean, wholesome family fun...

[tired&retired]

Time for her to file bankruptcy.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

"the performer himself is extremely indecent/immoral!"

How very sad that is no longer commonly agreed upon as a simple truth. I can just imagine if a creature like this was dropped into 1880 Coeur d'Alene. Or even 1970 Coeur d'Alene.

[DesertRhino]

“But, in this case, it does seem that justice was served.”

You have a strange idea of justice. A million dollars to a homo indecently exposing himself to the public.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

The forensic examination found that he did not expose his genitals and the blogger either reproduced a faked image or did it herself. Then she reported he HAD exposed his privates.

If she lied about it (as the court found), then the verdict is just.

[bigbob]

You aren’t entitled to your own facts.

[DiogenesLamp]

If you are going to write about them, be sure to get your facts straight and don't make things up. It will be costly if you are found guilty of defamation and libel.

But, in this case, it does seem that justice was served.

I disagree. I believe homosexuals should be locked up in asylums as we normally did up until the 1960s. They shouldn't be walking around on the street. They are mentally ill, and have no business in normal society.

I also do not give a d@mn about the hurt feelings of homosexuals. This jury is nuts, and this queer should have gotten nothing. Reputation of a f@ggot? What's that worth? Absolutely nothing.

The jury all needs @$$ beatings for being so stupid. They have swallowed the brainwashing that the mass media-lie-system has pumped into their brains.

[Liz]

[logi_cal869]

If you are going to write about them, be sure to get your facts straight and don't make things up. It will be costly if you are found guilty of defamation and libel.

Money quote.

We shouldn't be arming them recklessly...this sort of crap gives them perceived relevance.

[faucetman]

His WHOLE BODY was indecent exposure.

[DiogenesLamp]

You aren’t entitled to your own facts.

And I presume you are the sort of person who does not know what they are until a court comes along and tells you what the facts are?

Homos need to be locked up, not roaming the streets. The world would be a better place, and many thousands of people who are now dead, would otherwise not be dead if we had just treated homos the way they have always been treated in our nation's history.

The media-liars have brainwashed people to have too much concern and too much sympathy for these mentally ill people. Nobody understands why throughout history they have always been ostracized from society, or why the bible simply says to kill them.

Too many people are being taught their morals from Hollywood and the News-liars in New York city. Homos are dangerous. They belong in asylums.

[DesertRhino]

I doubt the case was honest. The blogger was probably correct. A jury of women and Cor D lane hippies can do what they want. But it was indecent exposure even if his side is technically true.

And it sure as hell isn’t worth a million dollars. Did he lose work shaking his ass in the face of kindergarteners or some such? He’s a pervert and the blogger was correct.

[faucetman]

I couldn’t have said it better.

[Dr. Sivana]

I can just imagine if a creature like this was dropped into 1880 Coeur d'Alene. Or even 1970 Coeur d'Alene.

Yu just didn't go back far enough. The Injuns of 1780 or 1680 might have thought this was a strange deity or demon.

[DesertRhino]

“Following the verdict, jurors approached Posey outside the courthouse to shake his hand or hug him.
“I’m so sorry you went through this,” one told him.””

19th Amendment strikes again.

[who knows what evil?]

Yep.