MISSISSIPPI — Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour filed a defamation lawsuit against Terrell Owens in a Mississippi district court on October 5. The complaint alleges that the former NFL player used his social media platform to defame the three teenagers with a post published on September 26.

The lawsuit centers on an X post by Owens that read, "ARREST THEM IMMEDIATELY!! LIKE YESTERDAY!!" The post linked to a video accusing Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour of deleting evidence from Nolan Wells' phone. Owens has 1.2 million followers on the platform.

The fathers of the three teenagers are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit because their sons are considered minors under Mississippi law. Edward Paltzik, a defamation and media attorney who represents the plaintiffs, said, "Not only is he defaming [the friends], he's basically saying to the mob, get your pitchforks, get your torches."

According to the complaint, the three teenagers have been subjected to thousands of death threats, face-to-face harassment, and daily fear and ridicule from strangers. The filing also alleges that they have been refused service at public establishments. Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour have denied deleting evidence from Nolan Wells' phone.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs intend to file additional defamation claims against content creators, including Al Sharpton and Sunny Hostin. The legal action follows events surrounding the death of Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old Black college student.

Timeline

Nolan Wells traveled to Horn Island on July 4 with a group of friends. Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour stated that Wells chose to stay on Horn Island with an unidentified woman rather than return to the mainland with the group on that day. Nolan Wells' parents disputed the claim that he stayed on Horn Island voluntarily, stating it would be unlike him to do so.

Nolan Wells' body was found on July 6. The State of Mississippi's Chief Medical Examiner was unable to determine the cause and manner of his death but found the circumstances consistent with drowning. An independent autopsy commissioned by Nolan Wells' family documented blunt-force injuries to the back of his head and other areas of his back.

A forensic investigator hired by Nolan Wells' family found that some messages were deleted from Wells' phone between his last use and when his parents received the device. Terrell Owens previously offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in Nolan Wells' death. Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath stated that Nolan Wells' death was not racially motivated.

What's New

A Mississippi grand jury declined to recommend criminal charges in Nolan Wells' death in late September. Nolan Wells' family and their lawyers disputed the grand jury's findings, noting that his airways and stomach were devoid of water.