Reasons behind Michelle Ntalami’s lawsuit against actress Minne Kariuki
Michelle Ntalami, the CEO of Marini Products, has taken legal action by filing a lawsuit seeking compensation for alleged damage to her reputation caused by a cast member of ‘The Real Housewives of Nairobi.’
Michelle was never a cast member but Susan Kaitanny’s guest at her party.
In a suit application dated September 25, Ntalami, represented by Kilonzo and Company Advocates, listed the defendants as actress Minne Kariuki, Young Rich Television Limited, M-Net, and D&R Studios Limited.
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Ntalami’s claims revolve around alleged false and malicious words written and spoken about her by Minne Kariuki.
These statements were made on diverse dates between February 23 and March 2, 2023.
The lawsuit also targets Young Rich TV, M-net, and D&R Studios for their roles in producing, publishing and distributing the defamatory content on various media platforms, including radio, TV, print, and digital media.
Ntalami asserts that she has suffered mental and psychological damage as a result of these actions and is seeking compensation for the same.
Additionally, she has accused Kariuki of cyberbullying and violating her privacy and data protection rights.
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Among the remedies Ntalami is seeking from the court are:
- An order directing the defendants to permanently remove all images, audio-visual content, and any other references to her from the show.
- An unconditional public apology and admission of liability for defamation and cyberbullying, to be published with the same prominence and magnitude as the original statements on various media platforms, at the cost of the 1st Defendant (Kariuki).
These demands extend to all defendants named in the lawsuit.
Ntalami is also seeking declarations of her constitutional rights, including her right to privacy and a good reputation.
She alleges that the breach affected her rights over her identity, likeness, image, photography, audio, and visual recordings and is demanding compensation for these violations.
Ntalami claims she was filmed without prior knowledge or consent during a ‘Sip & Scent’ event at Tribe Hotel on November 8, 2022.
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Despite requesting an Actor’s agreement/consent form from the filming crew, none was provided, even during the post-production stage of the show.
She asserts that she did not consent to any recordings of her image or likeness in connection with ‘The Real Housewives of Nairobi.’
Ntalami is featured in multiple series episodes, as well as in commercials, advertisements, and various social media pages of M-net and D&R Studios.
The CEO of Marini Products accused Minne Kariuki of initiating cyberbullying as soon as the show began airing.
She alleges that Kariuki published and spoke maliciously about her in a manner that attacked her personal and business brand, causing significant damage to her reputation and business.
The lawsuit also highlights the negative impact on Ntalami’s mental health, which disrupted her business plans, including strategic overseas expansion and high-level business meetings.
Additionally, due to the controversy, Ntalami accuses Kariuki of profiting from defamatory merchandise sales and experiencing an exponential increase in her social media following.
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