Document: 485 U.S. 46 108 S.Ct. 876 99 L.Ed.2d 41 HUSTLER MAGAZINE and Larry C. Flynt, Petitionersv.Jerry FALWELL. No. 86-1278. Argued Dec. 2, 1987. Decided Feb. 24, 1988. Syllabus Respondent, a nationally known minister commentator on politics public affairs, filed diversity action in Federal District Court against petitioners, circulated magazine its publisher, to recover damages for, inter alia, libel intentional infliction of emotional distress arising from the publication an advertisement "parody" which, among other things, portrayed respondent as having engaged drunken incestuous rendezvous with his mother outhouse. The jury found claim, specifically finding that parody could not "reasonably be understood describing actual facts . or events," but ruled favor stating he should awarded compensatory punitive damages. Appeals affirmed, rejecting petitioners' contention "actual malice" standard New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 254, 84 710, 11 686 must met before can for distress. Rejecting irrelevant that, because did describe facts, ad was opinion protected by First Amendment Constitution, court issue whether ad's sufficiently outrageous constitute Held: In order protect free flow ideas opinions matters interest concern, Fourteenth Amendments prohibit figures officials recovering tort reason caricature such at without showing addition contains false statement fact which made malice," i.e., knowledge reckless disregard it true. State's protecting is sufficient deny protection speech patently offensive intended inflict injury when reasonably have been interpreted about figure involved. Here, clearly "public figure" purposes, lower courts' believable accepted. "Outrageousness" area political social discourse has inherent subjectiveness would allow impose liability basis jurors' tastes views, perhaps their dislike particular expression, cannot, consistently Amendment, form award conduct involved here. Pp. 50-57. 797 F.2d 1270 (CA4 1986), reversed. REHNQUIST, C.J., delivered Court, BRENNAN, MARSHALL, BLACKMUN, STEVENS, O'CONNOR, SCALIA, JJ., joined. WHITE, J., concurring judgment, post, p. 57. KENNEDY, took no part consideration decision case. Alan L. Isaacman, Beverly Hills, Cal., petitioners. Norman Roy Grutman, City, respondent. Chief Justice REHNQUIST Court. 1 Petitioner Hustler Magazine, Inc., nationwide circulation. Respondent Jerry Falwell, who active sued petitioner invasion privacy, libel, directed verdict privacy submitted two claims jury. petitioners defamation claim We now consider this consistent United States Constitution. 2 inside front cover November 1983 Magazine featured Campari Liqueur contained name picture entitled "Jerry Falwell talks first time." This modeled after ads included interviews various celebrities "first times." Although apparent end each interview meant time they sampled Campari, played sexual double entendre general subject Copying layout these ads, Hustler's editors chose celebrity drafted alleged "interview" him states time" during portrays drunk immoral, suggests hypocrite preaches only drunk. small print bottom page, disclaimer, "ad parody—not taken seriously." magazine's table contents also lists "Fiction; Ad Personality Parody." 3 Soon became available public, brought Western Virginia Flynt Distributing Co., Inc. stated complaint case proceeded trial.1 At close evidence, granted claim. then [respondent] events [he] participated." App. Pet. Cert. C1. however, $100,000 damages, well $50,000 petitioners.2 Petitioners' motion judgment notwithstanding denied. 4 On appeal, Fourth Circuit affirmed (1986). rejected argument (1964), agreed concededly figure, are "entitled same level amendment received [respondent's] libel." F.2d, 1274. But does mean literal application malice rule appropriate context court's view, emphasized constitutional importance falsity defendant's truth, heightened culpability embodied requirement "knowing reckless" conduct. satisfied state-law requirement, jury's finding, defendants acted intentionally recklessly.3 went reject respondent, Amendment. As put it, "irrelevant," "whether [the ad's] distress." Id., 1276.4 Petitioners petition rehearing en banc, denied divided court. Given issues involved, we certiorari. 480 945, 107 1601, 94 788 (1987). 5 presents us novel question involving limitations upon authority citizens decide may harm caused him, doubtless gross repugnant eyes most. find injury, even decline do. 6 heart recognition fundamental concern. "[T]he freedom speak one's mind aspect individual liberty—and thus good unto itself—but essential common quest truth vitality society whole." Bose Corp. Consumers Union States, 466 485, 503-504, 104 1949, 1961, 80 502 (1984). therefore particularly vigilant ensure expressions remain governmentally imposed sanctions. recognizes thing "false" idea. Gertz Robert Welch, 418 323, 339, 2997, 3007, 789 (1974). Holmes wrote, "when men realized upset many fighting faiths, come believe more than very foundations own ultimate desired better reached trade best test power thought get itself accepted competition market. ." Abrams 250 616, 630, 40 17, 22, 63 L.Ed. 1173 (1919) (dissenting opinion). 7 sort robust debate encouraged bound produce critical those hold office "intimately resolution important questions or, fame, shape areas concern large." Associated Press Walker, decided Curtis Publishing Butts, 388 130, 164, 87 1975, 1996, 18 1094 (1967) (Warren, result). Frankfurter succinctly Baumgartner 322 665, 673-674, 64 1240, 1245, 88 1525 (1944), said "[o]ne prerogatives American citizenship right criticize measures." Such criticism, inevitably, will always reasoned moderate; "vehement, caustic, sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks," Times, supra, U.S., 270, S.Ct., 721. candidate vaunts spotless record sterling integrity cannot convincingly cry 'Foul!' opponent industrious reporter attempts demonstrate contrary." Monitor Patriot Roy, 401 265, 274, 91 621, 626, 28 35 (1971). 8 Of course, any immune sanction Since speaker liable damage reputation defamatory falsehood, if "with not." 279-280, 726. False statements valueless; interfere truth-seeking function marketplace ideas, cause individual's easily repaired counterspeech, however persuasive effective. See Gertz, 340, 344, n. 9, 3009, 9. though falsehoods little value themselves, "nevertheless inevitable debate," id., strict publisher factual assertions undoubted "chilling" effect relating value. "Freedoms expression require 'breathing space.' " Philadelphia Newspapers, Hepps, 475 767, 772, 106 1558, 1561, 89 783 (1986) (quoting 272, 721). breathing space provided allows prove both requisite culpability. 9 argues, different apply here State seeks prevent reputational damage, severe suffered person publication. Cf. Zacchini Scripps-Howard Broadcasting 433 562, 97 2849, 53 965 (1977) (ruling appropriation publicity). respondent's view Appeals, so long utterance distress, outrageous, serious import opinion, true false. It intent gravamen tort, preventing simply outweighs whatever type. 10 Generally speaking law regard one receive much solicitude, quite understandable most all jurisdictions chosen make civilly culpable where "outrageous." world things done motives less admirable Garrison Louisiana, 379 64, 85 209, 13 125 held writer motivated hatred illwill Amendment: "Debate uninhibited run risk proved spoke out hatred; hatred, utterances honestly believed contribute interchange ascertainment truth." 73, 215. 12 Thus while bad motive deemed controlling purposes law, think prohibits result figures. Were otherwise, there doubt cartoonists satirists subjected awards work falsely defamed subject. Webster's defines "the deliberately distorted picturing imitating person, literary style, etc. exaggerating features mannerisms satirical effect." Unabridged Twentieth Century Dictionary English Language 275 (2d ed. 1979). appeal cartoon often based exploitation unfortunate physical traits politically embarrassing events—an calculated injure feelings portrayal. art cartoonist evenhanded, slashing one-sided. One expressed nature words: 14 "The weapon attack, scorn ridicule satire; least effective tries pat some politician back. usually welcome bee sting controversial quarters." Long, Political Cartoon: Journalism's Strongest Weapon, Quill 56, 57 (Nov. 1962). 15 Several famous examples type injurious were drawn Thomas Nast, probably greatest date, associated years post-Civil War era Harper's Weekly. pages Nast conducted graphic vendetta William M. "Boss" Tweed corrupt associates City's "Tweed Ring." described historian "a sustained attack passion effectiveness stands alone history art." Keller, Art Politics 177 (1968). Another explains success achieved "because impact presentation. continuously goes beyond bounds taste conventional manners." Press, Cartoon 251 (1981). 16 Despite caustic nature, early portraying George Washington ass down present day, depictions cartoons prominent role debate. Nast's castigation Ring, Walt McDougall's characterization Presidential James G. Blaine's banquet millionaires Delmonico's Royal Feast Belshazzar," numerous efforts undoubtedly had course outcome contemporaneous Lincoln's tall, gangling posture, Teddy Roosevelt's glasses teeth, Franklin D. jutting jaw cigarette holder memorialized obtained photographer portrait artist. From viewpoint clear our considerably poorer them. 17 contends, "outrageous" distinguish traditional cartoons. There published distant cousin above, rather poor relation that. If possible laying principled separate other, suffer harm. standard, sure pejorative description supply one. expression. An "outrageousness" runs afoul longstanding refusal adverse audience. NAACP Claiborne Hardware 458 886, 910, 102 3409, 3424, 73 1215 (1982) ("Speech lose character embarrass others coerce them into action"). And, FCC Pacifica Foundation, 438 726, 98 3026, 1073 (1978): suppressing it. Indeed, speaker's gives offense, consequence according protection. 19 For central tenet government neutral ideas." 745-746, 3038. 20 Street York, 394 576, 592, 1354, 1366, 22 572 (1969) ("It firmly settled prohibited merely themselves hearers"). 21 Admittedly, oft-repeated principles, like limitations. recognized 'vulgar,' 'offensive,' 'shocking' "not absolute under circumstances." 747, 3039. Chaplinsky Hampshire, 315 568, 62 766, 86 1031 (1942), lawfully punish use insulting 'fighting' words—those tend incite immediate breach peace." 571-572, 769. These observation Dun & Bradstreet, Greenmoss Builders, 472 749, 758, 105 2939, 2945, 593 (1985), "long equal importance." seem governed exception principles above. conclude publications "blind application" see Time, Hill, 385 374, 390, 534, 543, 456 (1967), reflects considered necessary give adequate "breathing space" freedoms 23 Here law.5 "was believable," 1278, accordance custom accept finding. relegated reasons heretofore accordingly 24 Reversed. 25 KENNEDY 26 judgment. 27 I do case, assertion fact. agree below, penalized parody, squared While pending, second time. consequently party appeal. Under plaintiff show (1) reckless; (2) offends generally standards decency morality; (3) causally connected plaintiff's distress; (4) severe. 1275, (citing Womack Eldridge, 215 Va. 338, 210 S.E.2d 145 (1974)). below several contentions raise Neither disputes conclusion. host syndicated television founder president organization formerly Moral Majority. He Liberty University Lynchburg, Virginia, author books publications. Who's Who America 849 (44th 1986-1987).

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