Can Tyra Sanchez really sue RuPaul and Michelle Visage for defamation?
Tyra Sanchez (James Ross) says he plans to sue RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and World of Wonder, but defamation cases like this are notoriously hard to win. The biggest issue is that Ross is likely a public figure, which means he would have to prove “actual malice,” not just that the comments were unfair or damaging. On top of that, much of the Drag Race discourse people point to (“she didn’t deserve to win”) is usually protected opinion, not a provably false statement of fact. And if a lawsuit is filed in California, strong anti-SLAPP laws can lead to early dismissal and even force a plaintiff to pay the other side’s attorney fees. This post breaks down what defamation actually requires, why emotional distress claims face major First Amendment limits, and what kind of evidence matters if someone is claiming reputational harm or career sabotage.
Want to stay in the loop without checking back every week?
You can subscribe to updates from my blog using RSS. It’s an easy way to get new posts in your favorite app—no social media or email required.
Here’s the link to subscribe:
https://www.zandersonlaw.com/blog?format=rss
You can paste that into a feed reader like Feedly, Inoreader, or even some email clients.
Not sure what RSS is?
It’s kind of like subscribing to a news feed—just for this blog.
You’ll automatically see new articles when they’re posted, without needing to follow or sign up for anything else.
Please note:
The content on this blog is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice.
Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
For personalized guidance tailored to your specific circumstances,
it's always best to connect with a qualified attorney.