Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to include information on the announcement of a $250 million lawsuit by the Floyd Family.
The Floyd family announced Tuesday that they are suing rapper Kanye West after his recent comments regarding George Floyd’s death.
Roxie Washington, the mother of Floyd’s young daughter, announced that she has hired a legal team to sue rapper Kanye West, also known as Ye, for “harassment, misappropriation, defamation, and infliction of emotional distress,” according to TMZ. Washington and her legal team are seeking $250 million. The family also sent a cease and desist letter, obtained by TMZ.
George Floyd’s daughter to sue Kanye West for $250 million. https://t.co/UCmyLBne2k
— TMZ (@TMZ) October 18, 2022
“Mr. Floyd’s cause of death is well-settled through evidence presented in courts of law during the criminal and civil trials that were the result of his untimely and horrific death. Nevertheless, you have maliciously made statements that are inaccurate and unfounded, causing damage to Mr. Floyd’s estate and his family,” the letter reads, according to the outlet.
The family went on to call Ye’s comments “blatantly false” and “malicious” and alleged that they were causing George Floyd’s young daughter “emotional distress,” according to the outlet.
Family attorney Lee Merritt previously stated that he is pursuing all possible legal options on behalf of the Floyd family against Ye for his comments on the Oct. 15 edition of “Drinks Champs,” according to TMZ. Merritt acknowledged he could not file a defamation lawsuit against West because Floyd is deceased, but remained dedicated to finding a legal avenue to penalize West for his statements about Floyd.
“They hit him with the fentanyl. If you look, the guy’s knee wasn’t even on his neck like that,” West said in the episode, rejecting the jury’s verdict that Chauvin’s actions killed Floyd.
George Floyd’s family is openly considering a potential lawsuit against Kanye West and Candace Owens. https://t.co/IOeW5MZ2WM
— TMZ (@TMZ) October 17, 2022
West made reference to a documentary by Candace Owens, which alleges that Floyd died as a result of a fentanyl overdose, and has greatly upset the Floyd family, according to TMZ. “I watched the George Floyd documentary that Candace Owens put out,” West said during his the episode.
“One of the things that his two roommates said was they want a tall guy like me, and the day that he died, he said a prayer for eight minutes,” West said.
Merritt has confirmed he is also going to be assessing Owens’ documentary for information that misrepresents Floyd or the events that unfolded May 25, 2020. (RELATED: ‘You’re A Bully’: Gigi Hadid Slams Kanye West For His Tirade Against Fashion Editor)
The Floyd family previously considered filing a lawsuit against West for emotional distress caused by the claims he made, and Merritt evaluated the best course of legal action to take on their behalf, according to TMZ.
Merritt wants to make West responsible for the impact of his public statements, citing that his rhetoric could potentially stand in the way of the Floyd family’s work to pass the George Floyd Policing Act, among others, according to the outlet.
Potential causes of action are likely to be revealed later this week, according to TMZ.