Legal Clash: Diggs Files Motion To Block Griffith’s Tweet Counterclaim
The Washington Commanders wide receiver argues his social media post was truthful, making it immune from the defamation suit filed by Christopher Griffith.
By Rebecca Svoboda ·
Stefon Diggs has moved the court to dismiss a counterclaim against him. In a new filing, the Washington Commanders player argues that Christopher Griffith cannot win a defamation case based on a tweet Diggs posted about their dispute.
Diggs denies all allegations of sexual assault and physical violence made by Griffith. His legal team asserts that the statements made in the tweet were true, a legal defense that typically shields a speaker from liability.
The dispute began in May 2023. Griffith claims he was friends with Diggs and was flown to the player’s home in Maryland for a celebrity basketball game. He alleges that Diggs drugged him and made unwanted sexual advances. Griffith says that about a week later, associates of Diggs beat him up in Los Angeles for refusing those advances. He identifies Darez Diggs, the player’s brother, and two other associates as the attackers.
Diggs filed the first lawsuit in this feud. He sued Griffith for libel, arguing that the former spread lies that damaged his reputation. The suit noted that Griffith shared his claims with nearly 100,000 Instagram followers. The posts tagged actress Sarah Jessica Parker and Ugg, a company Diggs had recently partnered with.
Griffith responded with a countersuit. He claims Diggs defamed him by tweeting, “Lying on my name because he got caught stealing.” In his new response, Diggs argues that Griffith was upset by the post but that truthfulness prevents the claim from being defamatory.
Griffith’s attorney, Jake Lebowitz, told Page Six that his client is “looking forward to getting justice for the sexual and physical attacks perpetrated against him.” Lebowitz added that the alleged attack “came as a direct result of Mr. Diggs’s rebuffed sexual advances toward Mr. Griffith.” Griffith has posted alleged evidence on Instagram, including a text exchange and photos of Diggs wearing clothing Griffith says was stolen, along with a receipt.
This case is separate from other legal issues facing Diggs. A former employee has sued him and his brother Trevon Diggs over a stolen Ferrari and alleged civil conspiracy. Diggs was also accused of felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault by his personal chef earlier this year. All these matters are ongoing, and no court has decided the facts yet.
