FILE- In this May 20, 2019 file photo, Director Ava DuVernay, center, with the Central Park 5: Raymond Santana, from left, Kevin Richardson, Korey Wise, Anthony McCray and Yuesf Salaam, attend the world premiere of "When They See Us," at the Apollo Theater in New York. (Photo by Donald Traill/Invision/AP, file)
Former Manhattan prosecutor Linda Fairstein and Netflix have reached an agreement to settle the defamation lawsuit she initiated four years ago over her depiction in Netflix's miniseries about the Central Park Five, a group of Black and Latino teenagers later exonerated.
Fairstein claimed that the 2019 series "When They See Us" defamed her by portraying her as a racist villain and attributing actions, responsibilities, and viewpoints that were not hers. The lawsuit, which was set to go to trial later this month, concluded with Netflix agreeing to donate $1 million to the Innocence Project, a nonprofit that works to free wrongfully convicted individuals. While Fairstein will not receive any monetary compensation from the settlement, viewers of the series will now see a disclaimer clarifying that certain aspects of the story are fictionalized for dramatic purposes.
In a statement, Fairstein expressed that the decision to end the legal battle was challenging, emphasizing her confidence in presenting a compelling case to the jury. She underscored that the lawsuit was primarily about defending her reputation and that of her colleagues, aiming to rectify the inaccurate portrayal of her character in the series.
Fairstein served as the lead Manhattan sex crimes prosecutor in 1989 when the Central Park Five were accused of assaulting a jogger in Central Park. Their convictions were overturned in 2002 after Matias Reyes confessed to the crime, with DNA evidence corroborating his involvement. Despite overseeing the boys' interrogation, Fairstein did not personally handle their case.
Following the release of "When They See Us," Fairstein faced significant backlash, resulting in her being dropped by her publisher and resigning from various boards she was affiliated with. The series, directed and co-written by Ava DuVernay and produced by Attica Locke, dramatizes the events surrounding the Central Park Five trial.
DuVernay, responding to the settlement, maintained her belief that Fairstein bore responsibility for the investigation and prosecution of the five teenagers. She pointed out Fairstein's extensive presence during the boys' interrogation, alleging her awareness of the proceedings. DuVernay expressed disappointment that Fairstein chose not to have her actions judged by a jury, urging her to acknowledge her role in the miscarriage of justice.
The resolution of the lawsuit marks the end of a protracted legal battle and underscores the complex issues surrounding the portrayal of real-life events in entertainment media.
