Greg Hudik, a Nashville songwriter, is suing Fox News for defamation after the news giant ran an article calling his attempts to help raise money for the family of a late artist a fraud.
Not long ago, Greg Hudik, a Nashville music multihyphenate, released a song sung by the late Daryle Singletary to help raise money for his family. However, at the time, Fox News published a story describing the move as a scam. As a result, Hudik is now suing the news network for implying that he “wasn’t telling the truth about efforts to raise money for Daryle Singletary’s widow by selling the singer’s final sound recording.”
For those who may not know, Singletary passed away back on February 12, 2018. Shortly after his death, Hudik “sent out an email blast via a music promotion service that included a song the two recorded in 2016 called ‘We’re Not Going to Hell for Having a Hell of a Time’ and a message about Singletary.” He also released another song titled ‘She’s Been Cheatin’ on Us.’ According to Hudik, he wrote the song and Singletary performed it prior to his death. Another email blast was sent out “with the new song and a note saying all of the revenue from digital downloads would go to the Singletary family.”
However, Hudik was quickly served a cease-and-desist from Chuck Rhodes, who was allegedly Singletary’s business partner. In the cease-and-desist, Rhodes demanded Hudik to “take down photographs of the late singer that were used to promote the two songs.” Hudik complied, though was allegedly contacted by Singletary’s manager, who gave him permission to send out another email blast. Again, Rhodes contacted Hudik and issued a statement “that the song wasn’t approved by Singletary’s widow Holly and no ‘fund’ for the family existed.”
This grabbed the attention of Fox News, who sent an associate entertainment editor to ask Hudik for a comment. According to Hudik’s complaint, he allegedly spoke with the editor and “explained his position and that he was in the process of creating a fund.” The very same day, Fox News published a story titled, ‘Daryle Singletary’s new single is a scam, not benefiting his widow and kids, business partner says.’
When commenting on Hudik’s lawsuit against Fox News, his attorney, Bryant Kroll, said:
“The Defendants’ article contains numerous false statements and omissions which create a false, defamatory impression of and concerning the Plaintiff. The title, alone, is defamatory, accusing Mr. Hudik of a scam when nothing of the sort was alleged or even implied by Chuck Rhodes.”
In an attempt to clear his name, Hudik allegedly reached out to Rhodes to “confirm he never said such a thing to Fox News, and the songwriter contacted Fox News on multiple occasions.” Eventually, the news outlet edited the title of the article and removed the word ‘scam,’ but the damage had already been done to Hudik’s reputation. He claims he was humiliated in the incident and has since suffered emotional distress. He is seeking at least $25 million in damages.
Fox News has yet to respond to requests for comment.
Sources:
Fox News Hit With $25M Defamation Lawsuit From Songwriter
Here’s How to Help Daryle Singletary’s Young Family After the Country Singer’s Sudden Death
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