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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Addressing a music producer's defamation suit alleging Phoebe Bridgers false statements on the social media as part of a vendetta to destroy his reputation, the indie rock musician says in new court papers that she believed the statements she made were true.
Plaintiff Chris Nelson filed the suit Sept. 28 in Los Angeles Superior Court, also alleging false light and emotional distress.
On Monday, the 27-year-old Bridgers' attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the suit on free speech grounds.
``Mr. Nelson is seeking to chill Ms. Bridgers' allegations of abusive conduct, which are protected by the First Amendment,'' Bridgers' attorneys state in their court papers.
In his suit, Nelson alleges that after his relationship with his former girlfriend, Emily Bannon, ended in 2019, Bridgers continued a relationship with her while publishing false statements about Nelson on Instagram.
According to the lawsuit, Bridgers posted statements in 2020 to her public Instagram account, called @_fake_nudes at the time, stating she ``witnessed and can personally verify much of the abuse (grooming, stealing, violence) perpetuated by Chris Nelson.''
Nelson also alleges Bridgers directed her followers to Bannon's page, which accused Nelson of racially-motivated hate crimes, robbery and assault.
But in her declaration, Bridgers defends her remarks. She also speaks about her life as a bisexual woman and how she is an advocate for women who have suffered in abusive relationships.
``I believe that the statements I made in my Instagram story are true,'' Bridgers says. ``My statements were made based on my personal knowledge, including statements I personally heard Mr. Nelson make, as well as my own observations. I continue to believe the statements that I made were true.''
Bridgers adds, ``I was not involved in the composition of Emily Bannon's Instagram post.''
Like all Instagram stories, hers appeared on the platform for only 24 hours, Bridgers says.
Bridgers further says she is ``open about my bisexuality and have been an outspoken advocate for women's rights. I also have spoken out against racist, xenophobic, and misogynistic behavior.''
The singer says she spoke during a media interview about her relationship with musician Ryan Adams and how it allegedly turned emotionally abusive.
``I spoke out in support of women who came forward with abuse allegations against Marilyn Manson, a musician, including by recounting my own experience visiting his house as a teenager, and my description of that experience was reported in the media,'' Bridgers says.
The singer additionally says she has raised money for numerous charities that support women and that she supports Planned Parenthood. Bridgers says she is a major contributor to and supporter of the Downtown Women's Center in Los Angeles and that in 2020, she asked that all proceeds from a song she released go ``in perpetuity'' to the center.
``I support RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) and I donated $1 from every ticket from my 2021 Reunion Tour to this organization, contributing over $87,000 in total,'' Bridgers says. ``I also released a song in conjunction with the Metallica Blacklist project and selected RAINN to benefit from the proceeds.''
In their court papers, Bridgers' attorneys argue Nelson ``has held himself out as a public figure and voluntarily interjected himself into this dispute. Therefore, he is a limited purpose public figure who must prove that Ms. Bridgers acted with actual malice, which he cannot do.''
Bridgers, Nelson and Bannon were in a relationship until Bannon ended her part of the relationship with Nelson and then in 2020 made ``a number of statements criticizing Mr. Nelson's character and behavior,'' Bridgers' attorneys argue in their court papers.
``Ms. Bridgers then independently posted an Instagram story stating that she had witnessed Mr. Nelson's abusive behavior and warned those considering working with him to review Ms. Bannon's post,'' Bridgers' lawyers state in their court papers.
A hearing on the Bridgers dismissal motion is scheduled March 10 before Judge Curtis A. Kin. The singer has been a musical guest on ``Saturday Night Live'' and was nominated for four Grammy Awards in 2020.