As we previously shared yesterday, Lee Merritt, the attorney for the George Floyd’s family is looking to take legal action against Kanye West after he said Floyd died by fentanyl and not by ex-cop Derek Chauvin’s knee.
Attorney Says George Floyd’s Brother Was ‘Irate’ At Kanye West’s ‘Fentanyl’ Comment & Is ‘Committed’ To Suing Ye: ‘His Words Were Nearly Designed To Cause The Family Distress’
Lee tweeted, “While one cannot defame the dead, the family of #GeorgeFloyd is considering suit for Kanye’s false statements about the manner of his death. Claiming Floyd died from fentanyl, not the brutality established criminally and civilly, undermines and dimities the Floyd family’s fight.”
In a later interview Merritt had with TMZ, he said he learned of Ye’s comments on Sunday morning (October 16), when Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, called him “irate and hurt” by Ye’s statements.
Merritt says “the misinformation” stated by Ye — which he adds has already been debunked in court and agreed upon by a jury — “almost seems designed to cause the family distress.”
So now, the Floyd’s brother, on behalf of the family, asked Merritt to look into “restraining Ye from making such statements and holding him accountable for the misinformation he’s putting out there.”
Merritt says Floyd’s brother is “committed to bringing a lawsuit” against Ye. The family wanted a defamation suit, but it is not possible as Floyd is deceased; so Merritt is looking at possible litigation pertaining to libel.
Merritt further addressed the litigation request on his Instagram and said, “Ye’s statements concerning the death of #GeorgeFloyd are knowingly false and foreseeably offensive to members of Floyd’s immediate family who have been retraumatized by his malicious comments.
When asked by the brother of George Floyd to investigate potential legal remedies on his behalf my office agreed to provide our professional opinion concerning legal recourse.
Recent cases, like the one involving family members of victims of the Sandy Hook mass shooting against Alex Jones, provide precedent for recovery under several plausible theories which we are now considering.“
Merritt also says that the Floyd family are taking things even more personal with Ye because they viewed him as a family friend. Back in 2020, following George Floyd’s death, the Chicago rapper went ahead and set up a college fund for Floyd’s next to kin … his daughter.
#Socialites, be sure to check out the post below, then leave us your thoughts
View this post on Instagram