Remember Nick Sandmann, the 16-year-old who stood firm while a Native American activist beat a drum in his face?
He had the misfortune to be wearing a MAGA hat at the time. A number of news outlets promptly jumped on Sandmann and his classmate buddies at Covington school, accusing them of abusing the poor Indian, how cruel and racist, etc etc. (Of course the villifying had nothing to do with the hat, and implied support of President Trump.) Plenty of celebrities followed suit, including that paragon of gracious behavior, Kathy Griffin. (She even alleged that a '3 point' salute used by Covington basketball teams was a "Nazi sign." All tweets and such pertaining to said accusations were quickly deleted soon after. Nonetheless, she still said them. No apologies, either.)
Only they were wrong.
And when that was pointed out, they continued to insist the kid deserved every bit of slander he got. When that didn't work, they retreated into the "public figure" argument: they had a right to insult and sic the dogs on Sandmann. After all, by standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and being featured in videos he neither asked for or encouraged, that made him a public figure...right? And news was news, slanted or not.
Now they're paying.
CNN settled with Sandmann and his family back in January of this year.
Now, on Sandmann's 18th birthday, the Washington Post has settled the $250 million lawsuit against them. (Amounts weren't mentioned.)
More lawsuits are pending.
I'm betting that Sandmann's lawyers didn't even bother to go after the drummer Nathan Phillips, whose statements were disingenuous, at best. (He was magnanimously considering calling for the students' expulsion, although Sandmann said, "It was clear to me that he had singled me out.") Why should they sue him, though? No income, no assets -- why bother? (He also proved not to be the Vietnam combat veteran he wanted people to believe, with a record that wasn't exactly clean.)
After the dust has settled, it is to be hoped that Sandmann does the noble thing, and donates some of this money to charity. They could use it -- and he'll still have plenty for himself and his family.
Will news outlets be as quick to try to ruin someone's life again...particularly a kid's?
Stay tuned.
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