The family of Rylee McCollum, a Marine killed in Afghanistan during America’s chaotic troop withdrawal in August, has sued Alec Baldwin for defamation amid allegations the embattled actor falsely accused the serviceman’s grieving relatives of being "insurrectionists."
The plaintiffs are seeking damages of at least $25 million for alleged defamation, invasion of privacy, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, the Business Insider reported.
It came after Baldwin accused Roice of being a Jan. 6th rioter and ultimately called her an “insurrectionist” using an Instagram photo as a basis.
According to the suit filed Monday in federal court, the woman posted a photo at the Washington Monument days ahead of the first anniversary of the invasion of the Capitol.
Baldwin would then comment on the content, saying, “Are you the same woman I sent the $ for your sister’s husband who was killed during the Afghanistan exit?”
McCollum, 20, of Wyoming, was among the 13 U.S. service members killed in the Aug. 26 bombing outside the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport amid the Taliban takeover.
At the time, the actor got in touch with Roice in good spirits, sending a $5,000 check to the fallen soldier’s widow, Jiennah Crayton, and her newborn, according to the New York Post.
However, things between the two turned sour after Baldwin pressed her involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, protests, ultimately reposting Roice’s photo on his Instagram account.
“When I sent the $ for your late brother, out of real respect for his service to this country, I didn’t know you were a January 6th rioter,” the “30 Rock” star reportedly wrote in a private message.
“Your activities resulted in the unlawful destruction of government property, the death of a law enforcement officer, and an assault on the certification of the presidential election. I reposted your photo. Good luck,” Baldwin added.
Soon after, Roice became a target of “hostile, aggressive, hateful” messages from Baldwin’s 2.4 million followers, including one that said, “Get raped and die, worthless c— (kiss emoji). Your brother got what he deserved,” the lawsuit alleges.
Baldwin also allegedly misidentified Crayton as an insurrectionist in an Instagram comment, which saw people plaguing both the widow and Cheyenne with hateful and threatening messages, some labeling them as ISIS or Nazis, Casper Star-Tribune noted.
While Roice had attended a demonstration supporting President Donald Trump, she was not involved in the riots, as confirmed by the FBI. In addition, neither Crayton nor McCollum’s other sister, Cheyenne, was at the Capitol on the day of the riots. The trio is named the plaintiffs in the case.
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