Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner Sue Ray J for Defamation
Kim Kardashian and her mother, Kris Jenner, have filed a defamation lawsuit against R&B singer Ray J, accusing him of spreading false allegations that they were under federal criminal investigation. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday, claims Ray J’s recent remarks crossed the line from speculation into knowingly false statements designed to damage their reputations.
The Allegations at the Center of the Case
According to the complaint, the dispute stems from comments Ray J made on multiple platforms suggesting that Kardashian and Jenner were facing a federal RICO investigation. He first raised the idea during a TMZ special in May, when he said racketeering charges would be “appropriate.”
More recently, during a September 24 livestream, Ray J escalated the claims. “The federal RICO I’m about to drop on Kris and Kim is about to be crazy,” he said, adding, “The feds is coming.” The lawsuit asserts that Ray J portrayed his comments as fact rather than opinion, a distinction that is critical in defamation law.
“No such federal investigation exists,” the complaint states. “Ray J’s public statements are blatantly false… His conduct represents an egregious abuse of social media and public platforms to weaponize lies about nonexistent criminal investigations while fully aware that such allegations, even when baseless, carry the power to damage Plaintiffs’ livelihoods and hard-earned reputations.”
A Pattern of Public Accusations
The filing argues that Ray J’s recent remarks are part of a broader pattern of inflammatory comments he has made about Kardashian and Jenner over the years, often referencing his brief relationship with Kardashian two decades ago. The lawsuit describes his actions as an ongoing attempt to “exploit the Kardashians’ fame.”
To support their claim of defamation, the Kardashians’ legal team highlights specific statements Ray J made on the livestream, including: “The feds is coming, there’s nothing I can do about it,” and “Anybody that is cool with Kim, they need to tell her now, the rain is coming, the feds is coming.” At one point, Ray J compared the situation to the federal RICO case against Sean “Diddy” Combs, saying it was “worse than Diddy.”
These comments, the lawsuit says, were quickly picked up by TMZ and other outlets, fueling speculation online about whether Kardashian and Jenner faced criminal exposure.
Legal Stakes for Ray J
For Kardashian and Jenner to succeed in a defamation claim, they must prove that Ray J’s remarks were more than hostile opinions or exaggerated rhetoric. The complaint emphasizes that his statements were presented as factual assertions, not speculation, and that he should have known they were false.
The lawsuit also underscores the potential damage caused by the claims, arguing that being linked—however inaccurately—to a federal criminal probe could harm both women’s personal and professional reputations.
High-Profile Representation
The Kardashians are represented by Alex Spiro, a high-profile attorney known for handling celebrity cases. Spiro has previously represented figures such as Elon Musk and Alec Baldwin. His involvement suggests Kardashian and Jenner intend to pursue the case aggressively.
As of now, Ray J has not responded publicly to the lawsuit. It remains unclear whether he plans to defend his remarks as opinion, retract them, or seek an early dismissal of the case.
What Comes Next
The defamation suit adds another layer to the longstanding public tensions between Ray J and the Kardashian family. While it is too soon to tell how the case will unfold, the legal battle underscores the risks public figures face when social media statements veer into accusations of criminal conduct.
For Kardashian and Jenner, the case is not just about stopping Ray J’s comments but about protecting a brand and reputation built over decades in the spotlight.