Carole Baskin, who became a pop culture sensation thanks to Netflix’s docuseries “Tiger King,” has asked the Florida Supreme Court to review an appeals court ruling that said she is not protected from a defamation lawsuit filed by a former assistant
TALAHASSEE, Fla. — Carole Baskin, who became a pop culture sensation thanks to Netflix’s docuseries “Tiger King,” has asked the Florida Supreme Court to review an appeals court ruling that said she is not protected from a defamation lawsuit filed by a former assistant .
Baskin asked the Supreme Court last week to reconsider the earlier rejection of her appeal in the defamation case brought by Anne McQueen, a former assistant to her missing husband. A provision of the Florida Constitution and the U.S. Constitution conflicts with the appeals court ruling, Baskin said in her filing with the Florida Supreme Court.
According to the lawsuit, Baskin defamed McQueen by posting video diary entries on YouTube and a website in 2020, alleging that McQueen had embezzled money from her and her then-husband, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances more than two decades ago.
Baskin argued that McQueen’s case was without merit because she was protected by free speech provisions, her submissions were not defamatory, and McQueen did not properly notify her intention to sue as required in lawsuits against publications, broadcasters and other media.
A judge ruled in Baskin’s favor and dismissed the case, saying Baskin was a “media defendant” and that her statements were protected by free speech provisions under state law.
An appeals court reversed parts of that decision, saying it was not protected speech and that Baskin’s posts and video submissions fell short of what is considered a media defendant in the way newspapers and broadcasters are protected.
The documentary ‘Tiger King’ was about Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as ‘Joe Exotic’, a former zookeeper in Oklahoma. He was convicted of trying to hire someone to kill Baskin, who had tried to shut him down, accusing the Oklahoma Zoo of abusing animals and selling big cat cubs.
Baskin was also a contestant on the show ‘Dancing With The Stars’ in 2020.