Topline
Netflix agreed on Tuesday to settle a defamation lawsuit with Georgian chess master Nona Gaprindashvili, who had sought $5 million in damages as the result of a “sexist and belittling” representation of her in the Emmy Award-winning series The Queen’s Gambit, which falsely asserted she “never faced men.”
Netflix’s settlement in the defamation suit comes after a federal judge rejected Netflix’s attempt … [+]
Key Facts
Netflix had tried in January to have the lawsuit dismissed, arguing the show is fictional and that any creative liberties its writers took should be protected by the First Amendment—a federal judge, however, rejected that argument and allowed the case to proceed, writing that just because the show is fictional does not “insulate Netflix from liability for defamation if all the elements of defamation are otherwise present.”
Gaprindashvili, who rose to prominence in the 1960s and became the world’s first female international chess grandmaster in 1978, did, in fact, play against and beat the “best male chess players in the world,” according to the suit.
The terms of the settlement have not yet been disclosed.
Netflix did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but told Forbes after Gaprindashvili filed the suit last September that the company has the “utmost respect for Ms. Gaprindashvili,” but that her claim has no merit, and the company will “vigorously defend the case.”
Key Background
The lawsuit was sparked by a line in the season one finale, in which an announcer describes Gaprindashvili as “the female world champion and has never faced men.” Gaprindashvili, who started playing chess professionally as a 13 year-old, won the female World Championship in 1961 at age 20. She went on to successfully defend it four times, while also receiving 25 medals at the Chess Olympiads. By 1968, the year the episode in question took place, she had played against at least 59 male competitors, according to the suit.
Further Reading
Netflix Settles ‘Queens Gambit’ Defamation Suit Brought by Georgian Chess Grandmaster (Variety)
Chess Champion Sues Netflix For $5 Million Claiming ‘Sexist’ Defamation In ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ (Forbes)
Soviet chess champion sues Netflix over ‘sexist’ Queen’s Gambit (The Guardian)
‘Queen’s Gambit’ defamation lawsuit against Netflix can move forward, judge says (NBC News)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/09/06/netflix-settles-queens-gambit-defamation-lawsuit-with-georgian-chess-master/