A lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court accuses a group of individuals and their companies of orchestrating coordinated online smear campaigns targeting several women, including actress and model Jessica Serfaty and Grammy-nominated songwriter Amanda Ghost. The suit alleges intentional infliction of emotional distress stemming from false and disparaging accusations circulated through fabricated websites and social media profiles.
Jessica Serfaty, known for appearing on “America’s Next Top Model,” became the focus of intense online vilification after she publicly accused her fiancé Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, heir to the Luxottica fortune, of physical abuse in July 2024. Though visibly upset during a livestream, Serfaty later recanted the allegations following meetings with Del Vecchio and his legal team. She has since stated that her withdrawal was the result of coercion, maintaining that the abuse occurred. Soon after her claims, a series of derogatory websites and social media posts labeling her “an actual prostitute” and a liar appeared online.
Legal filings and internal communications reveal the involvement of Jed Wallace, a digital strategist, and Melissa Nathan, a publicist, among others, in managing and amplifying these defamatory materials. Wallace referenced efforts to bolster the credibility of multiple damaging links daily, exploiting internet algorithms to propagate false narratives that painted Serfaty in a highly negative light, including pushing portrayals of her as a “hooker, liar and a prostitute.” According to the lawsuit, the campaigns were designed not only to spread fabricated claims but also to incite public ridicule and delegitimize the women targeted.
Amanda Ghost’s legal battle similarly highlights the reach of these tactics. Ghost, a producer on Rebel Wilson’s film “The Deb,” filed suit following public accusations by Wilson that Ghost and other producers embezzled funds and sought to prevent the movie’s premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Ghost denied these charges and pursued a defamation claim against Wilson. Court documents include text messages and emails outlining how Nathan and others constructed disparaging websites portraying Ghost as “the Indian Ghislaine Maxwell” and accusing her of being a con artist and thief.
Further evidence points to coordination among former employees of the TAG Group, including former vice president Christina Case, who acknowledged drafting content for multiple “takedown sites” targeting Serfaty, Ghost, and others. Communications also disclosed payments amounting to $20,000 for such work organized by Nathan and others.
Amanda Ghost’s legal representatives have underscored the impact of these campaigns on her reputation, while attorneys for Rebel Wilson acknowledged Wilson’s involvement in requesting negative websites but contend that Wilson herself was the defamation victim and that Ghost had actively sought to damage Wilson’s public image.
Requests for comment directed to Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio and his representatives went unanswered. The lawsuit adds to a growing awareness of aggressive online tactics employed in high-profile disputes, raising concerns about the manipulation of digital media to influence public perception and intimidate individuals involved in personal or professional conflicts.