Flynt v. Falwell

Flynt v. Falwell (1988) was a U.S. Supreme Court case where Jerry Falwell, a televangelist, sued Hustler magazine for publishing a satirical ad falsely claiming Falwell had a drunken incestuous encounter. Falwell argued this was harmful false speech and sought damages. The Court ruled in favor of Hustler, asserting that public figures must prove actual malice—knowingly false or reckless false statements—to win a defamation or emotional distress claim. The decision reinforced protections for parody and satire under free speech, emphasizing that even emotionally damaging content is protected unless it shows clear malicious intent.