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January 13, 1988court rulingparodysatirepublic figuresemotional distressCivil RightsJusticeGovernment

Supreme Court protects satirical parody in Hustler Magazine v. Falwell

Hustler Magazine v. Falwell held that public figures cannot recover damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress without showing false statements of fact. The case protected offensive satire and parody targeting public officials, establishing that speech about public figures receives strong protection even when it is outrageous.