COVINGTON, Ky. (CN) - A Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader who also teaches high school says she was defamed on a snarky gossip Web site that falsely accused her of having sexually transmitted diseases and of sleeping with the entire NFL team.
Jane Doe claims TheDirty.com published the allegations maliciously, to harm her reputation, and the allegations of "moral turpitude" are particularly damaging because of her teaching job.
An article posted on Dec. 7 under the headline "Dirty Bengals Cheerleaders," states that her boyfriend cheated on her with more than 50 other women and claims that the Web site is "sure" he gave her Chlamydia and gonorrhea, according to the complaint.
She claims that on Oct. 27, the Web site reported that she "has slept with every ... Cincinnati Bengal football player."
Doe says the site reported the name of the school where she works and that her employer is aware of the articles.
She adds that people have "asked [her] if the information is true."
Doe says the Web site contains a section for readers to post responses, and some of her former students have commented on the Web page. She requested through email for the posts to be removed but the site refused
Doe says the Los Angeles-based Web site, which encourages readers to "submit dirt," is "monitored by Hooman Karamian under the alias Nik Richie." He claims to be the "world's first ever reality blogger" and adds that the TheDirty.com is "all about gossip and satire."
Doe seeks punitive damages for defamation, libel, false light and emotional distress. She is represented by Eric Deters of Independence, Ky.
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