Blac Chyna to Appeal After Losing Multi-Million Defamation Case Against Kardashian-Jenners
06:40 GMT 03.05.2022 (Updated: 08:22 GMT 03.05.2022)
© AP Photo / Bill Robles
Subscribe
The bombshell trial pitted former stripper and reality TV star Blac Chyna against the Kardashian family, who she accused of making statements that ruined her television career and cost her more than $100Mln in damages and future earnings.
After Blac Chyna failed to awarded damages on Monday when her defamation trial against the Kardashian-Jenners ended, her attorney says the model and influencer plans to appeal her case, according to celebrity and gossip website, Page Six.
Furthermore, despite the Los Angeles jury dealing a major legal blow of zero damages over defamation and contract interference claims, the jurors found that Chyna did not harm Rob Kardashian, her ex-fiancé and father of her five-year-old daughter, Dream.
“Two things. Number one, the jury found that Chyna had not physically abused Rob Kardashian … Number two, the jury found that all four defendants intentionally interfered with [Chyna’s] contracts with the E! Network. We will appeal the remainder of the verdict,” attorney Lynne Ciani told reporters outside the courthouse.
Blac Chyna arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, in New York
© AP Photo / Agostini/Invision
Blac Chyna, born Angela Renee White, who rose from stripping in a Miami club to reality TV fame, co-starred with Rob Kardashian in E!’s 'Rob & Chyna'.
The couple became engaged after three months of dating, announced that they were expecting their first child together, and had their relationship documented by the reality series, that aired for one season from September to December 2016. It is this show that has been at the centre of her lawsuit, dating back to 2017.
After Blac Chyna - who was a stunt double for Nicki Minaj in the music video for 'Monster' by Kanye West - split from Rob Kardashian, she sued him and his family for $40 million loss of earnings and more than $60 million in future earnings.
Blac chyna Should have been at the #metgala pic.twitter.com/7HMIjuzaqM
— block panther & klay (@fancytomboy) May 3, 2022
The socialite claimed the powerhouse family used their influence to smear her reputation and thwart her future financial opportunities after they allegedly “conspired” to cancel the second season of 'Rob & Chyna'. The Kardashian-Jenners have denied the accusations.
Before the legal battle her attorney stated in October 2020:
“Blac Chyna will seek millions in compensatory and punitive damages from Kris [Jenner], Kim [Kardashian], Khloé [Kardashian], and Kylie [Jenner] for defamation, intentional interference with contract, and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage. Chyna is beyond thrilled that she will have her day in court.”
During the trial at the Los Angeles Superior Court, Rob Kardashian was summoned to testify against allegations that Chyna had violently attacked her then-fiancé on a night and morning in December 2016.
According to the man, she twice held a gun to his head, wrapped a phone-charging cord around his neck and beat him with a metal rod. Dismissing the claims, Chyna insisted that she had put the cord around her then-co-star’s neck and held the gun “playfully” in celebration of the renewal of their reality show for a second season.
The legal aspect considered by the jury regarded the aftermath of that fight.
Blac Chyna alleged that her TV show was cancelled after one season because the Kardashian family falsely told producers and network executives that she had violently attacked Rob Kardashian.
Network and production executives testified in court that 'Rob & Chyna' was not officially “green lit” for a second season after the former couple’s relationship fractured and no longer “fit” the network’s focus on more “aspirational” shows.
Khloe Kardashian, from left, Kourtney Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner and Kylie Jenner arrive at Cosmopolitan magazine's 50th birthday celebration on Oct. 12, 2015, in West Hollywood, Calif. After more than a decade, “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” is ending its run
© AP Photo / Jordan Strauss
After its deliberations, the jury decided the famous family should not be held liable in Chyna’s defamation claims. Although they determined the family’s actions were not justified with respect to Chyna’s “contractual relationship” with the E! Network, they did not find that their conduct prevented Chyna from performing under said contract.
There remains Blac Chyna’s revenge porn claim against Rob Kardashian to be tried, which she filed in 2017.
