Cindy Lee Garcia, an actress who appeared in the controversial anti-Islam YouTube clip that’s fueling protests worldwide, is suing the film’s creator for fraud and slander. As part of that lawsuit, Garcia wanted the court to force YouTube to remove the video — something the company has refused to do.
The judge’s response? Not going to happen.
Judge Luis Lavin rejected Garcia’s takedown request, according to the Associated Press. His decision partially hinged on the fact that Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, the man now considered responsible for the film, hasn’t yet been served with a copy of the lawsuit.
Cindy Lee Garcia
Garcia has previously claimed Nakoula heavily edited the film, dramatically changing its intent. In the lawsuit against him, she’s claiming emotional distress and professional damage as a result of the final product.
“Emotionally, I am very disturbed,” Garcia told the Associated Press. “My whole life has been turned upside down in every aspect. My family has been threatened.”
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According to the lawsuit, Garcia is claiming that keeping the video online violates her right to privacy and makes her appear bigoted towards Muslims.
“This lawsuit is not an attack on the First Amendment nor on the right of Americans to say what they think, but does request that the offending content be removed from the Internet,” reads the lawsuit.
YouTube has refused to delete the video completely, but it has been blocked in several countries, including Pakistan.