Maddow, NBCUniversal Work to Dismiss $50M Lawsuit

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

April 21 2012 1:05 PM EST

May 26 2023 3:14 PM EST

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Rachel Maddow and attorneys with NBCUniversal, the parent company of MSNBC, say a $50 million defamation lawsuit brought against her by an antigay zealot is frivolous and needs to be tossed.

Rocker/preacher/radio host Bradlee Dean is suing the popular television host, saying she defamed him on her show by reading a speech he made that stated Muslims who want gays killed are "more moral than American Christians."

But Maddow took Dean's words verbatim, only truncating his entire speech. This is Dean's second lawsuit against Maddow. He claims that the lesbian host pushes a "radical gay agenda" and advocates for liberal causes like reproductive rights. Maddow's attorneys responded to the suit last week, saying the First Amendment allows the host to air her views, and the lawsuit is an attempt by Dean to separate himself from the comments, which he was harangued for. Read more here.