STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Update: Spike Lee Wants Lawsuit Over Zimmerman Tweet Thrown Out

Spike Lee has asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a Florida couple suing the director for tweeting their address, which he believed belonged to George Zimmerman, last year.

UPDATE:

Spike Lee has asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a Florida couple, who say they continue to receive death threats since the movie director mistakenly tweeted their address, which he thought belonged to George Zimmerman.

The director’s attorney says that the lawsuit brought by Elaine and David McClain should be thrown out because Lee already reached a $10,000 settlement with them last year. The couple says that the previous settlement only covered damages up until March 2012 and not their suffering since.
PREVIOUS:
A Florida couple filed a lawsuit against Spike Lee last week for an undisclosed amount for tweeting their address in 2012, which he believed at the time belonged to George Zimmerman. Lee posted it in the wake of the killing of Trayvon Martin

Lee previously apologized to Elaine and David McClain and paid them $10,000 settlement in March 2012. But the couple says they continue to receive hate mail and media presence from those who still don't know that Zimmerman does not reside at their address.

The McClains are seeking at least $15,000 in damages, according to ABC News. They may be seeking as much as $1.2 million, according to a court filing by Lee's attorney, the Smoking Gun reports.

The mix up may have occurred because the youngest son of Elaine McClain has the last name Zimmerman and the middle name George. Lee reposted the information from a man in California, who had tweeted the address to several celebrities. 
Lee said he regrets sending the tweet on Oprah's Next Chapter, which aired Sunday. "There's nothing I can say that can defend what I did. It was stupid," he said. 


BET National News - Keep up to date with breaking news stories from around the nation, including headlines from the hip hop and entertainment world. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. 

 (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.