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Rachel Maddow Calls For Defamation Lawsuit To Be Tossed Out

Maddow Fights Back Against Defamation Suit
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Rachel Maddow formally pushed back against a $50 million defamation suit in new court filings.

The MSNBC host is being sued by Christian rocker Bradlee Dean. Dean, who brought the suit in July of last year, claimed that Maddow had distorted anti-gay statements of his by removing a line in which he said he was against the killing of gay people. Maddow, however, did read the line.

In the court filings, which were first posted online by the Hollywood Reporter, Maddow and her lawyers called for the dismissal of the suit, saying that Dean's claims were groundless:

One, the broadcasts truthfully reported on Dean's May 15th statements ... Dean bears sole responsibility for the consequences of his words, however much he may try to distance himself from the backlash.

Two, the commentary or rebuke Maddow offered about Dean's statements was classic opinion ... as Dean is entitled to his opinions, however objectionable, so too is Maddow entitled to hers.

Read the full filing here.

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Before You Go

Media Lawsuits
Charlie Rose(01 of11)
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An intern sued Charlie Rose and his show over fair wage allegations. (credit:Getty)
Rachel Maddow(02 of11)
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Radio host and conservative preacher Bradlee Dean sued Maddow and MSNBC, claiming that the host defamed him in a segment. (credit:AP)
Anderson Cooper(03 of11)
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Remember Anderson Cooper's swanky converted New York City firehouse? The CNN anchor was sued over it. Brooklyn-based interior designer Killian O'Brien was working on the home, and filed a lawsuit claiming that she was injured on the job. She said she fell 17 feet through a hole that once held the station's fire pole. (credit:Getty)
Nancy Grace(04 of11)
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Grace was sued after the suicide of a woman who she had interviewed the previous day. The CNN host had questioned the woman about the disappearance of her son, and the woman's family members alleged that the interview caused severe emotional distress. (credit:Getty)
Alex Witt(05 of11)
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Witt was sued by a former friend who alleged that the MSNBC host owed her $65,000.
Ed Schultz(06 of11)
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Schultz was sued for by an NBC employee who claimed that he helped the MSNBC host break into TV and never got the cut he was promised.
Ryan Seacrest(07 of11)
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Seacrest was sued by a woman who claimed she was demeaned and humiliated during the filming of his reality show "Shahs of Sunset." (credit:Getty)
Ann Curry(08 of11)
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Ann Curry and her husband Brian Ross faced a 2006 lawsuit over their Upper West Side home. Neighbors complained about noise and safety issues from construction on the house, and expressed concern that homeless squatters would start fires. (credit:Getty)
Keith Olbermann(09 of11)
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Keith Olbermann was sued by conservative filmmaker James O'Keefe after David Schuster described him as "a convicted felon" and a suspect in a rape allegation made by a former co-worker. (credit:Getty)
Barbara Walters(10 of11)
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Barbara Walters was sued by a woman who claimed that she was defamed in Walters' 2008 autobiography. (credit:Getty)
Oprah Winfrey(11 of11)
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The daytime diva has been sued at least one, two, three and four times. (credit:Getty)
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