ABSTRACT
A defamatory statement is one that is both false2 and that tends to “harm the reputation of another as to lower him in the estimation of the community or to deter third persons from associating or dealing with him.”3 Usually statements that are “merely unflattering, annoying, irksome, or embarrassing, or that hurt only the plaintiff’s feelings”4 do not support a defamation claim. Nor will humor or parody.
