Courtesy of TMZ: A judge has tossed out a defamation lawsuit filed by the man who famously heckled Bristol Palin on her reality show … and even ordered him to pay her attorneys fees … TMZ has learned.
As TMZ previously reported, Stephen Hanks filed a lawsuit against Palin and A&E (parent company of Lifetime) following his encounter with Palin in a Hollywood bar that aired as part of her show, "Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp."
Hanks went after Brisol and A&E on several levels. First, he claimed he never signed a waiver to appear on the show. Second, he claimed the show invaded his privacy by airing Bristol's comments about Hanks being gay. And third, he claimed Bristol damaged his reputation when she later gave an interview saying that Hanks' hurtful comments are what caused her leave Los Angeles and move back to Alaska.
But a judge ruled in favor of Bristol and A&E on every count -- saying the show was protected by the First Amendment and that Hanks did not have his privacy violated because no unknown facts about him were disclosed (A&E had argued that Hanks is out as a gay man on his social media accounts).
The judge also ruled that Hanks has to cover Palin's attorney's fees.
You know I am sort of conflicted on this.
On the one hand what the guy said, which was so over the top that I have long thought it was scripted for him by the producers, was disgusting, and he should have known how it would look when recorded by the cameras that he certainly could not help but see all around him. (I mean after all the guy IS a talent scout!)
On the other hand, if indeed he did not sign a release, they had NO right to show his face and use the confrontation as a marketing tool to advertise that crappy reality show of hers.
Something about this whole things still smells really fishy to me. What do all of you think?
P.S. If you are one of the very few who did NOT see this confrontation at the Saddle Ranch just click here.
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