Wrestling legend Ric Flair and his daughter Charlotte Flair, also a wrestling star, are facing a $5.5 million lawsuit over comments made in the book they wrote together.
The defamation lawsuit was filed by Charlotte Flair’s ex-husband Riki Paul Johnson earlier this month in Mecklenburg County. In the lawsuit, Johnson alleges the Flairs’ book “Second Nature” contains “numerous salacious falsehoods” about him — such as claims that he is sterile and that he physically and/or emotionally abused Charlotte.
The lawsuit claims there’s no record or evidence of abuse perpetrated by Johnson, and alleges that Charlotte Flair was the one with a history of violent behavior. Johnson pointed to an incident in Chapel Hill, when Charlotte Flair allegedly became violent toward responding police officers and made “disparaging and racist comments” toward the black community. The suit calls Charlotte Flair an “out-of-control aggressor” and says there is dash cam video footage of the incident.
The lawsuit does not depict details of the alleged police incident, but according to WTVD, Charlotte Flair was arrested in September 2008 and charged with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest. The television station reports police had to use a Taser on Charlotte Flair after she kicked an officer.
The author contracted by the Flairs to write the book and World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. are also listed as defendants in the lawsuit.
Johnson says he’s been “subjected to national ridicule, contempt and disgrace” because of details published in “Second Nature.” He’s demanding $500,000 in actual damages and $5 million in punitive damages, along with attorney fees.