“Such portrayals go far beyond cultural commentary… They directly attack the character, morality, and social standing of an entire people.” — from the Marubo lawsuit.
A remote Amazonian tribe is suing the New York Times, TMZ, and Yahoo for $180 million, alleging a June 2024 story falsely portrayed them as addicted to pornography after receiving internet access via Elon Musk’s Starlink.
The Marubo, a 2,000-member Indigenous community in Brazil’s Javari Valley, filed the defamation suit in Los Angeles. They claim the Times article by Jack Nicas “portrayed the Marubo people as a community unable to handle basic exposure to the internet,” and that syndicated coverage exaggerated a moral decline.
An amended complaint states the article “directly attack[s] the character, morality, and social standing of an entire people.”
“The fallout… destroyed lives, institutions, and culturally significant projects,” the filing says.
Nicas reported the tribe’s youth were hooked on social media—and, according to one leader, explicit content.
In a follow-up, The Times wrote: “The Marubo people are not addicted to pornography.” A spokesperson said the piece was a “sensitive and nuanced exploration.”
The tribe claims the retraction was inadequate.