Nelson v. Bannon CA2/5

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

I. FACTS

Plaintiff Chris Nelson is a music producer who owns a recording studio and sells collectible musical instruments. Nelson has worked with “[n]umerous well-known artists and musicians.” He has also sold “over 2,000” pieces of musical equipment online, and was a seller with “over 1,400 reviews” from buyers. Defendant Emily Bannon—a voice actor—lived with and dated Nelson in 2018 and 2019, when she was 23 and he 34. In 2020, Bannon spoke with various people who had been acquainted with Nelson, ranging from business investors to romantic partners, about their negative experiences with him. Bannon then posted an Instagram story about Nelson containing roughly 30 slides that recounted her own and others’ bad experiences with him. Bannon’s Instagram following was about 20,000 at the time. Bannon then agreed to have musician Phoebe

2 Bridgers share the Instagram story on Bridgers’ own Instagram account, which had about 500,000 followers. Bannon’s Instagram story began with a slide stating, “I stand in solidarity with those coming forward with allegations against Chris Nelson . . . owner of Sound Space Studio . . . .” Bannon claimed that she had…