Author Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Former Classmate
LOS ANGELES — Author Amy Griffin has initiated a defamation lawsuit against a former classmate, asserting that the individual’s claims in a New York Times article and a related lawsuit are completely false. The article discusses allegations that Griffin misappropriated the woman’s story of sexual abuse in her best-selling memoir, “The Tell,” published in 2025.
Griffin’s federal lawsuit, filed in Nevada, contends that her former middle school classmate branded her a “fraud and a thief” through statements made to the New York Times. According to the complaint, Griffin is accused of stealing another woman’s rape story and profiting from it as a bestseller.
A spokeswoman for the New York Times stated that the lawsuit misrepresents the publication’s reporting, while the classmate believes that her account will be validated in court. Griffin’s memoir, an Oprah’s Book Club selection, details her childhood sexual abuse by a teacher in Amarillo, Texas. It also explores her journey of rediscovering suppressed memories through therapy with the psychedelic drug MDMA.
Conflicting Narratives Emerge After Publication
Approximately six months after the release of Griffin’s memoir, a Times article brought forward a classmate who claimed that certain experiences recounted by Griffin mirrored her own. This prompted the classmate to file a lawsuit in California in March; however, Griffin is actively contesting that case in an effort to have it dismissed.
The Associated Press generally refrains from publishing the names of sexual abuse victims unless they choose to come forward. The woman involved filed her lawsuit under the pseudonym “Jane Doe,” and her real name was not mentioned in the Times article.
Griffin Asserts Her Evidence is Unquestionable
Griffin’s lawsuit emphasizes the strength of her documented accounts of abuse provided to authorities in 2020 and 2021, which align with her memoir. The complaint claims that these accounts were recorded before the woman allegedly contacted Griffin in 2022 while pretending to be a talent agent, seeking details about Griffin’s abuse. However, no criminal investigation could proceed due to the statute of limitations.
Moreover, Griffin’s complaint argues that the woman misrepresented herself as “Claudia,” a character from her memoir. Griffin asserts that she has not interacted with the woman in over 35 years and that their purported meeting in Palm Springs in 2019 never occurred.
Accuser Responds to Allegations of Intimidation
In a statement sent via email through her attorney, the accuser expressed feelings of shame and humiliation, stating that Griffin’s memoir brought back traumatic memories. She accused Griffin of using her considerable resources to silence her, claiming that Griffin’s legal team revealed her identity despite her efforts to remain anonymous.
Griffin’s counsel clarified that the accuser’s attorney disclosed her identity during the legal proceedings, disregarding the option for anonymity as allowed under California law. Griffin’s lawsuit seeks a legal declaration that the woman’s accusations are false, alongside an unspecified amount of economic damages to be determined at trial.
New York Times Defends Its Reporting
While Griffin’s lawsuit does not name the Times as a defendant, it criticizes the publication for allegedly failing to rigorously verify the accusations presented. Griffin’s attorney claimed that the woman’s account of events is “patently false.”
A spokesperson for the Times responded, asserting that the lawsuit mischaracterizes their reporting and maintains that the articles differ significantly from the claims made in both lawsuits. The spokesperson added that the Times did not assert that Griffin appropriated women’s stories and emphasized that their reporters conducted thorough fact-checking and consulted extensively with Griffin’s legal representatives before publishing.
According to the spokesperson, the article aimed to explore the phenomena surrounding the memoir, the reliability of memories recovered under the influence of MDMA, and its effect on the author’s hometown. The intent was to pursue factual accuracy, including corroborating testimony from all relevant sources.
