Wisconsin Mom Wins Defamation Lawsuit
A Wisconsin mother and activist, who previously criticized a “social justice coordinator,” has successfully overcome a defamation lawsuit filed by a former English teacher.
Mary McCudden alleged that Scarlett Johnson tarnished her reputation in October 2022 after posting a critical message about McCudden’s involvement with the Mequon-Thiensville School District.
“I felt like I had to fight back in this case. I mean, I couldn’t just let it go. Someone had to take a stand because this kind of thing—well, it just doesn’t seem like it’s going to stop,” Johnson reflected.
In her post, Johnson questioned why taxpayers were funding a “social justice coordinator,” sharing a screenshot of McCudden’s LinkedIn profile. She described the situation as a pattern of “white women with god complexes” acting as “white saviors” in the school system.
She further criticized diversity, equity, and inclusion advocates as “woke madmen” who pressure parents into silence.
Lawyers from the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty argued that Johnson’s remarks were simply a “typical social media post” protected under First Amendment rights.
On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals sided with Johnson. “We conclude that Mr. Johnson’s statements are not defamatory,” the court confirmed, sending the case back to the circuit court for a summary judgment in Johnson’s favor.
The court’s judgment noted that some of Johnson’s language was subjective and others were vague.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Johnson emphasized that the lawsuit seemed aimed at muffling parents’ voices who speak out against DEI policies. “I felt it was crucial to not back down. It just can’t be another case that gets brushed aside—these efforts to intimidate parents won’t just go away,” she insisted.
Luke Berg from WILL expressed support for the ruling, stating, “Scarlett has every right to question and criticize her government. This defamation suit was without merit and should have been dismissed immediately. We’re glad the court saw it that way.”
Attempts to reach McCudden’s attorney for comment were unsuccessful.
