Kim Kardashian faces a lawsuit following a major social media blunder.
Morgan Stanley worker Ivan Cantu is suing the celebrity for defamation after she mistakenly identified him as a death row inmate in Texas, Daily Mail reported.
Last February, Kardashian posted to her Instagram, which boasts over 350 million followers, a photo misidentifying Ivan Cantu, a 60-year-old project manager from Westchester, as a Texas inmate condemned for a double murder. The mix-up led to widespread misrecognition, associating Cantu with heinous crimes he had nothing to do with.
Shortly after the erroneous post, the inmate with the same name was executed, escalating the urgency and impact of Kardashian's mistake.
The wrongly identified Ivan Cantu experienced significant distress following the incident. He suffered from embarrassment, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, which required him to seek counseling.
This emotional turmoil was amplified as Cantu was grieving a close family member at the time of Kardashian's post. He felt compelled to address the confusion publicly, clarifying on his Facebook that he was not the person facing execution.
In his statement, Cantu expressed his frustration, saying, "To all my friends and family, I am not getting executed, some idiot who runs @kimkardashian used my picture of Ivan 'Abner' Cantu."
Responding to this mistake, Cantu's lawyers filed a lawsuit for libel and slander, arguing that Kardashian’s actions were negligent, reckless, and unethical. They claim that the wrongful identification exposed their client to hatred, contempt, ridicule, and obloquy.
The legal team has demanded a jury trial and is seeking compensatory damages to address the various injuries suffered by Cantu due to the defamation.
Greg Sobo, Cantu's attorney, emphasized the responsibility of social media influencers, telling DailyMail.com, "Social media is too often abused to bully the innocent, incite harm, and injure our communities. If anyone should know the power of social media, it is Ms. Kim Kardashian."
Through her attorney, Michael Rhodes, Kardashian admitted the error. He told DailyMail.com, "It was a simple mistake of using the public photo of another man with the same name to promote Kim's longstanding commitment to the cause of criminal justice reform. The image was taken down almost immediately once the error was discovered."
Rhodes added that they prefer to resolve the issue without litigation, but they will defend Kardashian if necessary. This statement shows an attempt to mitigate the situation, though the impact on Cantu’s life has been profound.
Meanwhile, Kardashian, who is notably studying to become a lawyer with a focal interest in criminal justice reform, had tried using her platform to prevent the execution by urging her followers to sign a petition. She later reflected on the execution, stating, "Ivan Cantu was executed. Someone I believe is an innocent man. My prayers go out to his family and loved ones and everyone involved," thereby reinforcing her commitment to the cause.
Ivan Cantu, whom Kardashian intended to support, maintained his innocence until his execution, claiming a rival drug dealer was the actual murderer. He was convicted in 2001 for the murders of his cousin and his cousin's girlfriend.
Despite the tragic ending for the Texas inmate, the spotlight remains on Kardashian's activism and the impactful risks of social media influence. This event underscores the responsibilities that come with a vast digital reach, especially for high-profile figures like Kardashian whose actions can inadvertently harm innocent lives.
This case is also indicative of the broader implications of social media errors, where a single mistake can lead to significant real-world consequences, emphasizing the need for careful oversight and verification before sharing potentially life-altering posts.
