Photo credit: Kim Kardashian, Ray J (X)
Kim Kardashian’s defamation case against Ray J is moving forward after a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge rejected the singer’s request to dismiss the lawsuit.
The ruling allows Kardashian and her mother, Kris Jenner, to continue pursuing their claims against Ray J, whose legal name is William Ray Norwood Jr. The case is currently scheduled to go to trial in May 2028.
Ray J has said he plans to appeal the decision.
Kim Kardashian’s defamation case moves forward
Kardashian and Jenner filed the lawsuit over statements Ray J allegedly made linking them to a federal racketeering investigation.
The entertainer also allegedly suggested that their conduct could be worse than allegations involving Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Ray J asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that his statements were protected opinions under the First Amendment.
He also argued that some of the comments happened after he mistakenly believed a livestream had ended.
However, the judge declined to dismiss the lawsuit at this stage.
Judge says Ray J’s statements could be seen as factual
A key issue in the case involves the difference between an opinion and a factual statement.
The court found that a reasonable person could interpret some of Ray J’s comments as statements of fact. That finding allows Kardashian and Jenner’s claims to continue.
Generally, opinions receive protection under the First Amendment. Provably false statements presented as facts, however, can potentially form the basis of a defamation claim.
The ruling does not mean Kardashian and Jenner have won the case. Instead, it means their lawsuit can continue through the legal process.
Ray J plans to fight the ruling
Ray J has vowed to appeal the decision as the legal battle continues.
The case now moves toward the scheduled May 2028 trial, unless a settlement or another court ruling changes its course.
For Kardashian and Jenner, the latest decision keeps their claims alive. For Ray J, the ruling means his challenge to the lawsuit will continue through the appeals process.
The dispute adds another legal chapter to the long and complicated history between Kardashian and Ray J.
Source: HOT 97
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