Falling in the opposite direction Frontman Ronnie Radke has reportedly filed a defamation lawsuit against YouTube music critic Anthony Fantano.
Radke reportedly claimed Fantano “acted with malice” and “committed fraud” in his 2023 video about the singer, titled “This Guy Sucks.”
The couple had previously exchanged a few words on the X network, and earlier on Twitter. regarding Fantano's review of Falling In Reverse's “Watch The World Burn” in February 2023. But five months later, in August, Fantano released the aforementioned video, in which he raised a number of allegations made against Radke over the years.
The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday (August 20). Radke has warned of legal action against Fantano in past social media posts if he does not remove the video, but the video is currently still on YouTube.
In accordance with Stone feedHaving obtained legal documents filed by Radke against Fantano, the singer's legal team said Fantano's post “goes beyond the bounds of acceptable commentary and into the realm of innuendo, unsubstantiated rumors and outright lies.”
In a video post from Stone feedIt also alleges that Fantano misleadingly used headlines from music sites to support his story, detailing three alleged charges against Radke that the accusers later retracted. In all three cases, the lawsuit says, Fantano failed to mention how they ended.
As a result, the lawsuit alleges that “Fantano acted with deliberate malice and/or engaged in fraud, malice and/or oppression,” and therefore Radke is seeking punitive damages from him.
A case conference will be held on December 18.
After news of the lawsuit broke, one X user said of Radke: “How is he going to complain about not being able to say anything and then sue people for… saying something?”
Radke acknowledged the post, writing back, “You should be allowed to say what you want and not call people rapists or repeat insanely false, incriminating, traumatizing crap. Unacceptable. Stand up for yourself.”
Yes, you should be allowed to say what you want, and also not call people rapists or repeat insanely false, incriminating, traumatizing shit. Unacceptable. Stand up for yourself. https://t.co/zYO50DKShN
— Ronald (@RonnieRadke) August 22, 2024