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Frank Ocean Wins Libel Lawsuit Filed by His Father

Suit claimed that singer falsely accused his parent of using a homophobic slur

| October 18, 2017 @ 4:00 PM
Frank Ocean

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Good news for Frank Ocean — though this might make his next family reunion a little strained.

The “Sweet Life” singer has prevailed in a libel lawsuit brought against him by his father, an attorney for the singer told TheWrap on Wednesday.

Ocean was sued by his dad Calvin Cooksey earlier this year over an essay that the singer wrote that painted his father as a bigot.

According to the suit, Ocean’s 2016 Tumblr post falsely claimed that Cooksey discriminated against a transgender waitress, and dragged Ocean out of a neighborhood diner while he made “immoral comments” about the waitress’ hygiene.

Also Read: Frank Ocean Scolded by Judge During Legal Battle With His Father

Specifically, the suit claims that Ocean wrote, “I heard my dad call our transgender waitress a f–t as he dragged me out of a neighborhood diner saying we wouldn’t be served because she was dirty.”

“Plaintiff has never had any confrontations, conflicts or any discriminatory incidents, or encounters with any members of the LBGT [sic] community,” the lawsuit, which sought $14.5 million, claimed.

“Defendant did not only attack Defendant’s father … by fraudulently labeling Plaintiff as a ‘Homophobic Bigot,'” the lawsuit reads. “The Defendant also attacked God’s [sic] and God’s laws as they have been written in ‘Islam and Christian’ religions.”

Also Read: Frank Ocean Sued by His Own Father Over LGBT Slur Claim

While a judge ultimately found in Ocean’s favor, the singer did experience some turbulence during the case. In July, Ocean was scolded by federal judge Stephen V. Wilson, who threatened the “Novacane” singer with sanctions because Ocean’s defense in the case was largely “devoid of any factual support.”

Wilson wrote: “If it becomes clear that the defendant is persisting with arguments with no factual support in order to confuse the Plaintiff or hide the truth of the matter, the Court would consider sanctions against the Defendant or his counsel as a remedy for such conduct.”

Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.

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