NEW YORK (AP) — Former Manhattan prosecutor Linda Fairstein and Netflix announced Tuesday they have reached a settlement in the defamation lawsuit she filed four years ago regarding her depiction in the streaming service’s miniseries about the now-exonerated Central Park Five, a group of Black and Latino teenagers.
Fairstein claimed that the 2019 four-part series “When They See Us” defamed her by portraying her as a “racist, unethical villain” and attributing actions, responsibilities, and viewpoints to her that were not hers.
The case was set to go to trial later this month. Fairstein stated in a release that while she believed she had a strong case to present to the jury, the decision to end the legal battle was not an easy one. As part of the settlement, Netflix will donate $1 million to the Innocence Project, a nonprofit dedicated to helping those who have been wrongly convicted. Fairstein will not receive any monetary compensation.
A disclaimer will now be shown to viewers of the series, stating that certain elements have been fictionalized for the purpose of dramatization, although the story was inspired by true events and people.
“The main focus of this case was not about financial restitution, but about defending my reputation and that of my colleagues,” Fairstein expressed in her statement. She emphasized that she aimed to clarify that the negative characterization of her in the series was inaccurate.
Fairstein was a key figure in the prosecution of the Central Park Five in 1989, but their convictions were overturned in 2002 when a convicted murderer confessed to the crime. Despite her involvement in the case, Fairstein did not try it personally.
Following the release of “When They See Us,” Fairstein faced backlash resulting in her being dropped by her publisher and resigning from various boards she served on.
Ava DuVernay, who directed and co-wrote the series, and writer Attica Locke, were also named as defendants in the lawsuit. DuVernay maintains her belief that Fairstein was responsible for the flawed investigation and prosecution of the teenagers.
“Linda Fairstein was present during the interrogations of the boys and was aware of the circumstances they were facing,” DuVernay stated in a post on X. She criticized Fairstein for choosing not to face a jury trial.
“I hope that one day Linda Fairstein can acknowledge her role in this miscarriage of justice and take accountability for it,” DuVernay added.
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