Hoax – Riley Gaines won a million-dollar defamation lawsuit against Whoopi Goldberg.
Analysis
Political, cultural, and gender debates in the United States have constantly fueled hoaxes on social media. Often, these contents exploit celebrities or public figures involved in controversies to spread disinformation for political or ideological purposes.
A recent example involves Riley Gaines, a former American collegiate swimmer known for her conservative views. Online claims suggest Gaines won a defamation lawsuit against actress and host Whoopi Goldberg.
The messages appear in different versions: some cite $8 million, others $10.9 million in damages. In both, the content suggests Riley’s victory was a direct response to public statements by Whoopi. Read:
Text: Version 1: AMERICA’S LAST LINE OF DEFENSE RILEY GAINES WINS $8 MILLION DEFAMATION LAWSUIT AGAINST WHOOPI GOLDBERG. Version 2: Riley Gaines just won a lawsuit against the old liar Whoopi Goldberg for defamation. A big fat $10.9 million, baby. Here’s a thought, everyone Whoopi defamed needs to sue her and break that crazy bank.
Fact‑check
Despite going viral, there is no factual basis for the supposed legal battle. To clarify, let’s answer three main questions: 1) Who is Riley Gaines? 2) Is it true that Riley Gaines won a million-dollar lawsuit against Whoopi Goldberg? 3) Was there any conflict between the swimmer and the presenter?
Who is Riley Gaines?
Riley Gaines is a former American swimmer who excelled in collegiate competitions and gained notoriety for her conservative positions on gender issues in sports. She has been an outspoken voice against the participation of trans women in female competitions, frequently involved in public debates on the subject.
Is it true that Riley Gaines won a million-dollar lawsuit against Whoopi Goldberg?
No. There is no filed lawsuit between Riley Gaines and Whoopi Goldberg, let alone any judgment involving compensation. Moreover, no court in the United States issued a ruling concerning both. In other words, the circulating content is fictional, lacking any legal basis or credible news source.
Was there any conflict between the swimmer and Whoopi Goldberg?
No. Riley Gaines has been involved in public discussions, but none directly involving Whoopi Goldberg. Recently, she had an exchange with Simone Biles (who deactivated her X account) over a controversial post on trans athletes, as seen in this tweet.
On the other hand, Whoopi has made no public statements about Gaines, and there’s no record of any friction or lawsuit between them. The claim is fabricated—a pattern seen in other fake news involving the presenter, such as the false rumor that Elon Musk bought “The View” to remove Whoopi Goldberg.
Conclusion
It is false that Riley Gaines sued and won a million-dollar lawsuit against Whoopi Goldberg. The content is entirely invented and follows the same pattern as other fake news involving public figures with opposing ideologies. There’s no record of a lawsuit, court ruling, or dispute between the two. It’s just another hoax circulating online.
Fake news ❌
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