A legal fight tied to a mistaken social media post by Kim Kardashian has taken another turn. A California judge has ordered New York resident Ivan Cantu to pay nearly $167,000 in legal fees after his defamation lawsuit against the reality star was dismissed.
The dispute began in February 2024 when Kardashian publicly shared an image while advocating for Texas death row inmate Ivan Cantu. The post aimed to support calls for clemency before his scheduled execution. Instead, the image showed a different man with the same name — a New Yorker with no connection to the criminal case.
Kardashian quickly deleted the post and described the mistake as accidental. Even so, the wrongly identified Ivan Cantu later filed a defamation lawsuit. Court filings stated that Kardashian had “published and disseminated false information” that damaged his reputation and caused emotional distress.
Why the Lawsuit Was Dismissed
Instagram | tmz_tv | Kim Kardashian mistakenly used a photo of an innocent New Yorker while advocating for a Texas death row inmate.
The case reached Los Angeles Superior Court, where Kardashian’s legal team filed an anti-SLAPP motion. The motion is designed to protect speech tied to public issues and prevent lawsuits that target free expression.
Judge Michael Small ruled in Kardashian’s favor and dismissed the lawsuit. After the dismissal, her attorneys requested reimbursement for legal expenses totaling around $186,000.
This week, the judge approved most of that amount and ordered Cantu to pay roughly $167,000.
Court records showed that Cantu argued the payment would financially devastate him. He also pointed to the major difference in wealth between himself and Kardashian, who holds billionaire status through her business ventures and television career.
Judge Small rejected those claims. He described the arguments as “unavailing” and confirmed that the court was “granting Kardashian’s motion in the main.”
Cantu’s attorney, Greg Sobo, strongly criticized the ruling following Monday’s decision on May 11. “This ruling is not consistent with California law and is certain to be overturned,” Sobo told the “Daily Mail.”
The lawyer also defended his client publicly, saying, “We are proud to stand by Ivan Cantu, an innocent victim who was slandered.” Sobo added that the decision represented “simply one step in the process of obtaining justice against the rich and powerful.”
Representatives for Kardashian have not publicly commented on the latest ruling.
The Original Execution Case
Instagram | kimkardashian | Kardashian wins legal fees as court rejects Cantu’s defamation lawsuit in a win for online accountability.
The inmate Kardashian intended to support was executed at Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville on February 29, 2024.
That Ivan Cantu had been convicted in the 2001 killings of his cousin James Mosqueada and Mosqueada’s fiancée, Amy Kitchen. Despite the conviction, he continued to maintain his innocence until his execution. He claimed a rival drug dealer carried out the murders during a dispute involving money.
Kardashian joined several activists and legal advocates who pushed for a halt to the execution. She publicly referred to the inmate as “an innocent man” while sharing information online before realizing the image mistake.
The wrongly identified Ivan Cantu later claimed the post caused “emotional and mental anguish, psychological harm, embarrassment, anxiety, loss of sleep, nightmares, post-traumatic stress, headaches, need for medical care, need for emotional counselling and loss of reputation.”
The ruling marks another high-profile legal outcome involving celebrity social media activity and online accountability. While Cantu’s legal team plans to challenge the decision, the court’s latest order leaves him responsible for most of Kardashian’s legal costs after the failed defamation claim.
