Can American Airlines Sue Alec Baldwin for Defamation?
Alec Baldwin’s waging a war against American Airlines after he was booted from a flight last week after reportedly refusing to turn off his cell phone. The actor has complained about the airline repeatedly on Twitter and even mocked the situation on Saturday Night Live this weekend. So, can American Airlines sue Baldwin for defamation?
Former Prosecutor Arthur Aidala thinks the airline could do more from a public relations standpoint than a legal one unless “a few months go by, and they can show that because of Alec Baldwin’s statements, they have a considerable drop off in revenue.”
Fox News Legal Analyst Lis Wiehl agrees that the airline doesn’t have a legal case against Baldwin. As for talk of Baldwin being fined by the FAA for his behavior on the flight, Wiehl says that while she believes his actions were ridiculous, “If American Airlines thought it was so egregious, they should have reported it to the FAA right then and there. It shouldn’t have to take a Saturday Night Live skit to have this happen.
