3 of Nolan Wells' friends sue NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens for defamation

Three friends of Nolan Wells, a Black college student from Mississippi, are suing NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens for defamation following his scathing social media posts. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the three young men by their fathers, who are also named as plaintiffs since the teenagers are minors under state law. Owens posted on X: “ARREST THEM IMMEDIATELY!!” and linked to an Instagram video that suggested the friends killed Wells and tampered with his phone after he went missing during a Fourth of July celebration in Mississippi and was later found dead. The lawsuit alleges that these posts have led to thousands of death threats, harassment, and daily fear for the young men and their families. Owens has over 1.2 million followers on X and had previously pledged $25,000 toward a reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in Wells' case. The plaintiffs' attorneys argue that Owens's actions have endangered the lives of the three friends and harmed their reputations significantly.