Maple Leafs Joffrey Lupul, Dion Phaneuf threaten TSN with lawsuit
Toronto Maple LeafsJoffrey Lupul, Dion Phaneuf and his wife, actress Elisha Cuthbert, have threatened legal action against TSN after the Canadian network aired a tweet on live television that alleged Lupul slept with Cuthbert.
On a live show during the NHL's trade deadline on Monday, TSN displayed the tweet (warning: some might find the language inappropriate) from a fan on its bottom scroll.
In a statement on the website of Vancouver-based law firm Gall Legge Grant & Munroe, Lupul, Phaneuf and Cuthbert requested a formal apology and pay of "a significant amount of damages."
"On behalf of our clients Dion Phaneuf, his wife Elisha Cuthbert and Joffrey Lupul, we have sent a letter to TSN demanding that TSN issue a formal apology and pay a significant amount of damages to each of our clients for broadcasting a false and defamatory tweet during their trade deadline show yesterday. We are sending a similar letter to the author of the tweet, Mr. Anthony Adragna.
"It is bad enough that there are people who spend their time using social media to publish such false and malicious stories, but it is made much worse when a reputable media outlet like TSN gives broad circulation and credibility to these false stories by republishing them as TSN did.
"If TSN and Mr. Adragna do not immediately comply with the demands set out in our letters, we have instructions from our clients to immediately commence a lawsuit against them.
"Our clients will not be discussing this matter with the media. Any questions should be directed to the undersigned."
TSN issued an apology on Twitter on Monday and said on Tuesday it will air another during the Maple Leafs' game against the Florida Panthers.
Cuthbert and Phaneuf were married in July 2013. Phaneuf has been with the Maple Leafs since he was traded by the Calgary Flames in January 2010. Lupul has been with the Maple Leafs since he was traded by the Anaheim Ducks in February 2011.
- Mike Fiammetta