Christian Rocker Says Maddow Defamed Him

WASHINGTON (CN) - Christian heavy metal drummer Bradlee Dean says Rachel Maddow defamed him on her MSNBC show by claiming that he advocates the execution of gays and lesbians. Dean also sued a Minnesota-based Internet columnist on similar grounds.

Dean, founder of the nonprofit Christian group You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International, sued Maddow, NBC, MSNBC, The Minnesota Independent and its columnist Andy Birkey in Superior Court. He seeks $50 million for defamation and "for business losses and to his good will and reputation."

The complaint states: "Defendant Birkey on information and belief took a 'special interest' in plaintiffs Dean and YCR because he is a secularist and/or atheist and gay activist with a politically left ideology who despises people of faith, including but not limited to the Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN) who is running for the presidency of the United States, and is a conservative Christian as well."

Dean says Birkey wrote a column that accused him of saying that "Muslim countries calling for the execution of gays and lesbians are 'more moral than even American Christians.'" The column was titled, "GOP-linked punk rock ministry says executing gays is 'moral,'" according to the complaint.

Dean claims that Maddow, whom he describes as of "a leftist political ideology" and a "committed and also proud lesbian," disparaged his physical appearance and profession as a "heavy metal entertainer" on her MSNBC show, and "represented that he and YCR had advocated the execution of gays."

Dean describes himself as a "renowned and accomplished hard metal rocker who came to Jesus Christ after a difficult sinful youth resulting in part to an absent father who was imprisoned and largely absent mother."

He claims repeatedly that the defendants are injuring him to try to hurt the "'big political prize, which they loathe, Christian conservative presidential candidate Michele Bachman."

Dean is represented by Larry Klayman.

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