THE BEAST

Falling In Reverse frontman Ronnie Radke has officially filed a defamation lawsuit against prominent music critic and social media influencer Anthony Fantano. Fantano, who is widely known for his online persona "The Needle Drop," has built a substantial following across various platforms, including TikTok (1.5 million subscribers), YouTube (1.84 million subscribers), and Instagram (1 million followers). His often polarizing reviews and commentary on music have garnered both acclaim and criticism.

Radke's legal action follows through on a series of public threats he made earlier this year, specifically in response to a video Fantano posted in August 2023 titled "This Guy Sucks." The nearly eight-minute video features Fantano heavily criticizing Radke, not only for his music but also for his involvement in various past controversies, including allegations of domestic violence, sexual assault, transphobia, and racism.

In response to the video, Radke demanded its removal, warning that failure to do so would result in a defamation lawsuit. When Fantano refused to take down the video, Radke took to social media, sharing updates on his intent to pursue legal action, often directly addressing Fantano.

On August 20th, 2024, Rock Feed confirmed that Radke had indeed filed a defamation lawsuit against Fantano in a Los Angeles Superior Court. The complaint focuses on Fantano's alleged repetition of past accusations against Radke, which Radke claims are misleading, defamatory, and harmful to his reputation.

The lawsuit asserts that Fantano's "This Guy Sucks" video goes beyond permissible commentary and crosses into "actionable innuendo, unfounded rumormongering, and outright untruth." The complaint also alleges that Fantano used images of headlines, press excerpts, and social media posts related to Radke, which, when combined with his commentary, created a misleading narrative.

One specific claim in the lawsuit accuses Fantano of equating an alleged physical assault with sexual assault, while omitting the legal resolutions that ended in Radke's favor. The suit argues that Fantano acted with "malice aforethought" and seeks punitive damages for what it describes as "common law malice."

Radke's legal team further alleges that Fantano knowingly made false statements or acted with "reckless disregard" for the truth, warranting punitive damages that will be determined at trial. The initial court proceedings are expected to begin later this year, with a case management conference scheduled for December 18th, 2024.

Radke has continued to discuss the lawsuit on social media, sharing Rock Feed's report and engaging with fans about the ongoing legal battle. The suit marks a significant escalation in the ongoing feud between Radke and Fantano, which began with a public spat in early 2023. As the case develops, it is likely to attract considerable attention from both fans and critics of the outspoken musician and the influential music critic.